Ninety-eight people have already been killed by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Paeng as more cadavers were retrieved by search, rescue, and retrieval teams in the aftermath of one of the deadliest storms to hit the country this year, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday morning, Oct. 31.

As of 6 a.m., the NDRRMC said in a situational report that 58 fatalities were already validated while 40 reported deaths are still being confirmed.

The validated deaths were recorded in the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat (35), Datu Blah Sinsuat (7), Upi (8), Barira (2), and South Upi (1) in Maguindanao; Sibalom (2) and Hamtic (1) in Antique; and Kalamansig (2) in Sultan Kudarat.

The victims died either due to drowning, landslide, or fatal injuries after being hit by fallen trees. One of the victims in Sibalom, Antique — a 61-year-old man — died of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC is validating 16 reported deaths in Western Visayas (Region 6), 12 in Calabarzon (Region 4A), six in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), four in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), and one each in Bicol Region (Region 5) and SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12).

The NDRRMC also reported that 69 people have been injured while 63 individuals were missing: 29 in Region 8; 22 in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); six in Region 6; two in Region 4A; and one each in Mimaropa (Region 4B), Region 5, Region 12, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The storm has affected 575,728 families composed of 1,812,740 individuals in all 17 regions of the country. A total of 213,726 people were staying in evacuation centers.

Agri, infra damage

Paeng added to the woes of local farmers and fisherfolk who had been devastated by Typhoons Maymay, Neneng, and Obet — all of which hit in October.

Per the latest tally, Paeng already incurred P435.46 million worth of damage to agriculture in Mimaropa, Regions 5, 6, 10, and 12; and P757.84 million worth of damage to infrastructure in Mimaropa, Regions 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

There were also 4,188 houses that were damaged in 15 regions.

Power, water supplies

Electricity has yet to be restored in 169 out of 263 cities and municipalities that experienced power interruption due to Paeng, leaving in the dark thousands of residents in Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and BARMM.

Meanwhile, seven out of eight cities and municipalities that experienced water interruption in Calabarzon, Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, and BARMM were still without adequate water supply, forcing residents to endure days and nights without something to drink.

NDRRMC Chairman Jose Faustino Jr. already tapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines to bring potable water, water-filtering machines, and additional food packs to the affected areas. He also instructed concerned agencies to help electric cooperatives to expedite the restoration of power supply in the storm-hit places.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Martin Sadongdong

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