In a press conference on Monday, OCD Deputy Administrator Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said that based on the initial report one of the fatalities died due drowning in Viga, Catanduanes while the other was hit by a collapsed structure in Catbalogan, Samar.

"We have reported two dead, one from Viga and one from Catbalogan and two injured individuals. These incidents are still under validation by our concern regional and local DRRMC's disaster risk reduction and management councils," he said.

"The two injured individuals were recorded in Bato, Catanduanes and one in Calinog, Iloilo who fell while fixing his roof before the arrival of the tropical cyclone," he added.

On the other hand, Col. Esmeraldo Osia Jr. of the Philippine National Police also confirmed a landslide incident in Nueva Vizcaya where two five year-old twins reportedly died.

However, Alejandro attributed the lower number of casualties to the pre-emptive evacuation, the recent impact of the devastating tropical storm in Cebu and the constant issuance of warning to the local government units to prepare for Uwan.

The OCD reported a total of 426,000 families or 1.4 million individuals pre-emptively evacuated in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region (NIR), Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

It also noted that at least 92,000 families or 318, 000 individuals across the affected regions were displaced and currently staying in 6,000 evacuation while 50,000 families or 165,000 individuals are being assisted outside evacuation centers.

As of 12 noon, the Philippine Coast Guard monitored 2,222 rolling cargoes, 44 vessels and 20 motorbancas that were stranded in 103 ports/areas affected by Uwan, while 392 vessels and 123 motorbancas are still taking shelter due to the continued rough sea condition because of the typhoon.

On the status of lifelines, the OCD reported that 155 cities and municipalities are still experiencing power interruptions while 13 areas have disruption of water supply.

Alejandro said four municipalities in Aurora province including Casiguran, Lasag, Dinalungan and Dipaculao were isolated due to landslide incidents while 71 roads, three bridges are still not passable and 26 bridges have limited access due to the Uwan.

"A total of 132 areas remain flooded as of this morning while 13 areas were affected by storm surges as of the latest monitoring. There are 1,085 houses that are reported to be damaged, (of which) 89 were totally damaged and 996 were partial damage," he said.

Alejandro said the government is continuously conducting damage and needs assessment in the areas affected by the super typhoon as the weather is expected to improve while Uwan continues to move away from the country. Robina Asido/DMS