By CESAR JOLITO III

The devastation left by Typhoon “Tino” in Negros Occidental has been described as one of the worst tragedies to ever strike the province, according to Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II.

In a radio interview yesterday, Diaz said that based on reports and feedback gathered from rescue teams and local responders, the extent of the destruction brought by the typhoon was “no small matter,” leaving communities in severe distress and infrastructure heavily damaged.

He emphasized that the 4th and 5th districts of Negros Occidental suffered the most from the flooding and landslides triggered by the storm, which hit the province on Tuesday, November 4.

As of now, the provincial government is still awaiting comprehensive reports from various Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices to finalize the overall assessment.

Diaz clarified that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is reviewing data and awaiting official submissions on agricultural damage from all local government units.

He added that the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis is still incomplete due to difficulties faced by several local government units in transmitting reports, caused by the loss of cell site signals in many areas following the storm.

“Tino” lashed Negros Island on Tuesday with powerful winds and torrential rains, submerging communities, toppling electric poles and triggering widespread blackouts.

Negros Occidental was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 as “Tino” battered the province./CJ, WDJ