Mayor describes destruction in Coron, Palawan

PALAWAN - Coron Mayor Lara Reyes on Monday said at least 9 people were killed in Coron, Palawan during the onslaught of super typhoon "Yolanda." Speaking to radio DZMM, Reyes said the fatalities drowned or were crushed by their own houses. At least one resident was killed in a landslide. Authorities still have no contact with six island barangays in Coron. In one barangay, all 600 houses were destroyed during the typhoon. At least 11,000 residents are now staying in evacuation centers, the mayor said. She said at least 90% of houses in Coron were damaged. Reyes appealed for relief goods to the town, saying that current food supply would only last 6 days. The mayor estimated the damage to the municipality at P5 billion to P10 billion. She said only 10 remaining pumpboats are operational after the typhoon. "Fishermen can't fish because we are using the boats," she said. RADIO DZMM, November 11, 2013