Typhoon Rai Hits Philippines; Official Says No Indonesian Victim

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Ministry's directorate for the protection of citizens overseas confirmed there were no Indonesians falling victims in typhoon Rai in the Philippines by far. Based on data from the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, there are 33 Indonesians living in Cebu areas. 

“The Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao have established intensive communication with the Philippine authorities and Indonesian communities there to monitor the impact of the typhoon,” said the ministry’s director for the protection of citizens overseas Judha Nugraha.

Judha also ensured that there was no information on casualties or injuries from Indonesian citizens living in the areas affected by the powerful storm. The citizens are now grappling with access to electricity that has not been reactivated yet at several points.

Previously reported, the death toll from the typhoon soared to 208, and 52 others have been reported missing. It caused devastation in the central and southern Philippines after the storm hit last weekend. Typhoon Rai has been deemed the deadliest storm to ever hit the country.

The number of victims stated by the police was believed to be much higher than the figure recorded by the national disaster agency. To date, the validation process of reports from areas affected by Typhoon Rai was still afoot.

Read: Tremors Felt in Indonesia Due to 7.1 M Earthquake in Philippines

SUCI SEKARWATI