Typhoon Yolanda kills at least 6

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Early reports accounted for at least 6 people killed by what has been described as “one of the 4 most powerful typhoons ever recorded in the world.”

This number, as of Friday evening, November 8, was based on official reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units.

More casualties and injuries, as well as damage to properties and crops, are believed to remain unrecorded since power and communication lines were totally cut off in several provinces, mostly in the Visayas.

Unofficial accounts could drive the number of casualties up. A GMA News report, for instance, said at least 30 people were killed in Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte, most of them from drowning due to a storm surge.

NDRRMC’s 6 pm update identified 3 people killed:

• Enex Deinla – electrocution (Masbate)
• Regie Francisco Bucoy – struck by lightning (Zamboanga City)
• Jimmy Cabilan – electrocution (Surigao del Sur; the Office of Civil Defense-Caraga gave a different name – Jimmy Bueno – but indicated the residence is the same)

Other casualties confirmed by local authorities:

• Marissa Pedregosa – hit by a galvanized iron that flew from the roofing (San Enrique, Iloilo; according to Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)
• Randy Sijar – electrocuted (Calinog, Iloilo; according to Iloilo PDRRMO)
• 74-year-old man (unnamed) – killed when a concrete wall collapsed (Lucena City; according to the Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council)

CNN made a correction to its earlier report that a woman in Cebu was killed when a falling coconut tree hit her. “Authorities in Cebu said they were unable to establish whether a woman who was hit by a falling coconut tree in the north of the province was dead or injured. Neil Sanchez, a provincial disaster management official, said authorities had lost contact with the town where the incident happened.” – with reports from Karlos Manlupig, Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com