Yolanda deaths now at 5,936; missing still at 1,779

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) continues to rise as retrieval operations continue in Eastern Visayas, where a total of 1,779 people remained missing over a month after the cyclone struck.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council report in its 6 a.m. update on Tuesday that a total of 5,936 people have been confirmed killed, majority of which were recorded in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Tacloban City.

The NDRRMC also reported that the number of injured persons was at 27,022.

The agency added that the total affected families was at least 2.6 million or 12.3 persons in 12,122 barangays in 44 provinces, 591 municipalities and 57 cities in Regions 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Caraga.

The number of damaged houses in the Yolanda-hit areas decreased to at least 1.1 million with the ongoing validation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the NDRRMC said.

The total cost of damage was pegged at P35.5 billion with P18.2 billion in infrastructure and P17.3 in agriculture.

The NDRRMC said the national government, local government units, and private institutions have already poured into the affected population more than P1 billion worth of relief assistance.