DAVAO CITY – Sixty-seven persons have been killed by severe tropical storm “Paeng” (international name “Nalgae”) in Maguindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Rapid Emergency Action and Disaster Incidence (BARMM-READi) said.
Eleven persons are still missing as of 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, BARRM-READi added.
Fifty casualties were due to landslides in Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 from Datu Blah Sinsuat, and seven from Upi.
Six are missing in Datu Blah Sinsuat and five in Datu Odin Sinsuat.
These towns were the hardest in Maguindanao due to heavy rains from Paeng since Thursday evening.
BARMM-READi said the tropical cyclone has affected 115,437 families or 572,185 individuals from 126 barangays in Maguindanao and Cotabato City.
The Municipal Police Station of Parang in Maguindanao announced on Facebook on Friday night that the Nituang Bridge is impassable due to flood damage.
The bridge links Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
Authorities advised motorists going to Matanog, Maguindanao or Lanao del Sur to take the Parang-Buldon-Barira Road as alternate route.
The local government of Buldon, also in Maguindanao, also announced on Facebook page on Saturday morning , Oct. 29, that the Oring Bridge is no longer safe to motorists.
“As per recommendation of the DPWH in their initial assessment of the Oring Bridge, the LGU of Buldon would like to inform everyone that Oring Bridge is not safe for any motorist, light or heavy vehicles. Therefore it is hereby declared as temporarily close for the safety of everyone,” the municipality said.
The local government of Datu Hoffer said on Facebook at 7 a.m. on Saturday that the bridge in Barangay Labu-labu has been closed to traffic due to approach damage.
The bridge on the Cotabato-Isulan Highway links Datu Hoffer to the towns in Sultan Kudarat.
Authorities in Maguindanao have appealed for help for displaced residents who need hygiene kits, medicines, drinking water, blankets, and mosquito nets.