The damage left by typhoon Odette in Siargao is "devastating," as described by the Siargao Airport officer-in-charge (OIC), but no casualties have been reported so far from the island.
Bingo Matugas, Surigao del Norte first district representative, said on a Facebook post that they established contact this morning with Siargao Airport OIC Richard Alas after Typhoon Odette hit, who gave them an initial assessment of the situation there.
"Per Mr. Alas' initial assessment, the damage of Odette in Siargao is devastating. There are no updates yet as to casualty," said Matugas.
One good news is that Surigao del Norte Governor Lalo Matugas and wife Sol Matugas have been found safe despite being trapped in the island and that the Siargao Airport runway is now cleared of debris despite its terminal being "totally damaged."
"The good news is Gov. Lalo & Sol Matugas are safe despite being trapped while visiting evacuation centers in Siargao," the representative said.
According to Matugas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it will fly two choppers from Davao to make an aerial assessment of the damage in Siargao and the whole of Surigao del Norte.
"They will also establish VSAT [very small aperture terminal] communications in Siargao so we can get direct updates from our LGU officials," he said.
Meanwhile, he added that the Philippine Coast Guard plane is already en route to Siargao, and on another post, and that two private planes from Legaspi City, Albay, are also on the way to assist in the emergency and rescue operations.
"We have two (2) private planes leaving within the hour from this posting, from Legaspi City, bringing a team of doctors, medicines and first aid kits to augment emergency and rescue operations in Siargao Island," Matugas said.
