MANILA, Philippines – Hours after supertyphoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) left the Philippines, reports from Eastern Samar, where communication lines have been cut off since Friday, are finally trickling in.
In the aftermath of the typhoon, at least 200 people are feared dead in the province, a series of text messages from Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said Saturday, November 9.
As of 8 pm, Saturday, most of the casualties were reported to be from the municipality of Hernani.
Evadone said his cousin, Arteche Mayor Rolando Evardone, was informed by the police and members of the Philippine Red Cross that about 200 to 300 people died in Hernani.
The information was relayed to the Red Cross by Plan Philippines, an international NGO which has several projects in Eastern Samar, Evardone said.
The lawmaker however stressed the estimates were not official.
"I hope the report about casualties in Hernani is not true," Evardone said.
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