DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 22 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City conducted massive clearing operations to clear roads in the city of debris and fallen trees after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

The typhoon battered Negros Oriental on Dec. 17 and caused massive blackouts and uprooted trees that toppled the power lines and damaged several homes.

However, the flood waters did not cause any serious breach of the river dikes and bridges within the city.

A 32-year-old resident of Brgy. Banilad was the lone confirmed casualty after a collapsed tree fell on the victim who was in her bed, causing traumatic head injury and death.

City Health Officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla said 776 families or 3,077 individuals from flood-prone areas who were preemptively evacuated before the typhoon hit the province have already returned to their respective homes after the danger has passed.

Barangay officials coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP), City Health Office, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) for the orderly evacuation of the residents.

Responders from the CDRRMO responded to several calls for emergency assistance and transported residents who were injured and in need of medical attention.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo ordered the activation of the Emergency Operations Center, Incident Management Team and response clusters to include the City Social Welfare and Development Office for provision of food/non-food items; camp coordination and management; City Nutrition Office for food provision; Department of Education Dumaguete for evacuation centers; Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine Army-Armed Forces of the Philippines for search rescue and retrieval; and PNP for enforcement of law and order.

The City Engineers Office was tasked for debris clearing with CDRRMO, Department of Interior and Local Government for management of the dead and missing, City Health Office for provision of medicine and vitamins, General Services Office for logistics, PNRC, City Planning and Development Office, Public Information Office, and the Sangguniang Barangays.

PNRC served hot meals to 250 individuals at evacuation centers and established first aid stations in major evacuation areas of the city.

The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Ports Authority said sea travels remain suspended unless all Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are downgraded.

Workers of the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II are now trying to fully restore electric service. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from CPIO)