Typhoon Odette (international name Typhoon Rai) has displaced thousands of families in the Philippines as it lashed out across Visayas and Mindanao on Thursday evening, December 16, 2021.
Also Read: When Disaster Strikes: How to Apply for SSS or Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan
Phone signals have been cut off and also electrical power. Trees have been uprooted, electrical posts have been toppled, and houses flattened. Floods have also been reported
Thousands Flee Homes and Seek Shelter in Evacuation Centers
As the weather disturbance has worsened, many families fled their homes and took shelter in nearby evacuation centers. The Local Government Units (LGU) around Visayas and Mindanao now find it hard to provide basic necessities as the roads are now filled with trees that were uprooted by the typhoon.
Signal No. 4 was hoisted over most of Mindanao and the Visayas late Thursday as the typhoon strengthened further ahead of its expected landfall in the Caraga region.
Odette’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 155 km/r from while its strength also increased to 235 km/h, according to a bulletin posted by PAGASA – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.
A report from PAG-ASA shares of flood advisories in certain regions. Below is the post:
General Flood Advisories issued @ 6AM, 17 December 2021
Region 7 (Central Visayas) GFA #8
Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) GFA #24
Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) GFA #4
Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) GFA #5 pic.twitter.com/dk3kFRUGtj— PAGASA-HMD (@PAGASAFFWS) December 16, 2021
Photos Show Damage by Typhoon Odette
In Cebu, shopping malls have opened their buildings for evacuees to take refuge in.
LOOK: Evacuees in Cebu City are safe and sound following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. Robinsons Cybergate – 75, Robinsons Fuente – 8, SM City Cebu Trade Hall – 1,100, SM Seaside – 33. Councilor Joel Garganera thanked the Malls. #OdettePH | Courtesy of: @cebudailynews pic.twitter.com/7lH4rLBKM1
— Philippine Journalism Central – (PJC) (@PJCorg) December 16, 2021
Photos show damage on Electrical Posts and Trees in Cebu below:
#OdettePH
Aftermath of typhoon odette.
6:00 in the morning around Cebu City pic.twitter.com/ZPR0bQIdyu— AkoRomeo (@Ako_romeo) December 16, 2021
Photos show damages on skyscrapers and establishments in Cebu:
The Sugbo Mercado food market at the Cebu IT Park was destroyed after the onslaught of Typhoon #Odette on Thursday night. Edjie Pedujan, a BPO employee, shared how the windows of their building broke one by one last night.
? Edjie Pedujan pic.twitter.com/gM7n7Ac8nw
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) December 17, 2021
Typhoon Odette has been extensive and brought a lot of damage here in Cebu. Prayers for the people of Cebu ?
ctto.#OdettePH pic.twitter.com/DXGiedQpSd
— poetatooe | TAQ (@poetatooe) December 17, 2021
Ports and boats were also affected and sank. Photo in Cebu Port:
Damages in Cebu City ?
Cebu Port, SM Seaside, Ayala Malls
Pray for all affected areas by Typhoon #Odette
?Julian C pic.twitter.com/sviUpMWm33
— Merie G7oss ✪ A'TIN FanFi7m ?️? (@GlossMerie) December 17, 2021
In Cagayan de Oro, thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate their homes after authorities warned of more floods and rising floodwater around 3 p.m., following hours of intermittent and, at times, heavy rain.
In Marabut, Western Samar, 99 families sought refuge inside a cave.
LOOK: families seek shelter in a cave
99 families from the fishing community in Brgy. Caluwayan in Marabut, West Samar seeks shelter from #TyphoonOdette in a nearby cave.
The same cave provided sanctuary for families during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. pic.twitter.com/FROgwM0WX4
— OpinYon (@OpinYonNews) December 16, 2021
Photos of floods on the street in Kabankalan City Proper, Southern Negros Occidental
Situation at Kabankalan City Proper, Southern Negros Occidental as of 9AM today.
?️Photos by Kyl Serfino
?https://t.co/DO20JEnNCV#OperationOdette2021 pic.twitter.com/lRVPXa6VtR— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) December 17, 2021
36,000 families displaced in Cagayan de Oro City due to the typhoon. Volunteers are offering their help to also avoid the spread of illnesses such as fever, cough, and COVID-19.
"We have about 36,000 families in 750 evacuation centres that we are helping.
"Volunteers are working to prevent illnesses like cough, fever, pneumonia and COVID-19," says Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon as Super Typhoon Rai hits Philippines. @philredcross pic.twitter.com/n2oAuKmPI5
— IFRC Asia Pacific (@IFRCAsiaPacific) December 17, 2021
User Posts that there will be no electricity and water for them until next year.
Lord heal our land. No electricity no water until next year. ?? #TyphoonOdette pic.twitter.com/Zh1XbiOElG
— christine (@tinskysunyeah_) December 17, 2021
15th Super Typhoon in Philippines
This is the 15th major weather event to strike the nation this year, and it grew rapidly in the morning before being designated as a super typhoon.
To assist victims of the typhoon, authorities have set up disaster relief operations. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that its units are now engaged in disaster response operations in regions severely damaged by Typhoon Odette. This is being done in collaboration with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
We hope everyone is safe and that these families recover soon.