(UPDATED)
It was a nightmare before “Undas" as Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” left at least 45 people dead, 33 injured, and 18 others missing, proving to be relentless in pounding Southern Luzon with heavy rains and punishing winds while extending its reach up to Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday, Oct. 29.
The death toll was revised by the NDRRMC after there occured an "overcount" or double count in Maguindanao. NDRRMC spokesperson Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV reported early Saturday morning that the toll reached 72.
"What they did this morning is to tally if these numbers are validated by other sources from the barangay, from the municipalities. It came out na nagovercount ang record (there was an overcount of the record)," said NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. in a press briefing.
Of the fatalities, 40 deaths were recorded in Maguindanao in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) — particularly in the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat (27), Datu Blah Sinsuat (5), Upi (6), and Barira (2) — after it was affected by landslides and widespread flooding that was not seen in recent years, according to disaster officials.
"Most of the 40 validated deaths in Maguindanao are due to landslide. There was a landslide in Datu Blah Sinsuat and other areas in northern Maguindanao were flooded," Faustino noted.
Meanwhile, three people drowned in Soccsksargen (Region 12): one in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and two in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat; while two persons died in Western Visayas: one each in San Joaquin, Iloilo and Tapaz, Capiz.
There were also 33 injured victims, majority were in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao while 18 persons were missing: 15 were from Maguindanao and three from Sultan Kudarat.
The death toll is expected to further increase as search, rescue, and retrieval operations were ongoing, particularly in Brgy. Kusiong, Dau Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao after it was swallowed by flood which drowned villagers.
Alejandro admitted that they were “shocked” by the magnitude of Paeng’s devastation particularly in Maguindanao since it was forecasted to hit the Visayas region and move north towards Metro Manila.
“Based on the projection of PAGASA , we issued advisories to include thunderstorms and local weather. But this area in Maguindanao where landslides and flooding occurred, this is not the usual scenario for them so it was really shocking not just for us but for them also,” Alejandro said.
“ the Liguasan Marsh are the usual flood-prone areas there but this time, the extent of flooding is really vast so it was shocking,” he continued.
“In Metro Manila, we expect that the typhoon will further intensify so we have advised our Office of Civil Defense, the Metro Manila Council to prepare. Clean the drainage canals to avoid flooding,” he added.
A total of 49,767 families composed of 184,161 individuals were affected by the typhoon in Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), and Caraga (Region 13).
Of this, 2,615 families or 9,737 individuals were staying in 113 evacuation centers across the affected regions.
“Please take note that the typhoon has just made landfall in Bicol area and its effects are ongoing. We cannot really say what are is hardest-hit but so far it reached Mindanao and we’ve seen the effects in Maguindanao, in Visayas where Aklan was flooded by the overflow of the Aklan River, and others that are flooded and hit by landslides,” Alejandro said.
Water, food
Alejandro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has already assisted the NDRRMC in deploying much-needed drinking water and food for typhoon victims in Maguindanao as search and rescue operations continue.
“Last night, we coordinated with the AFP to bring the relief items and machines there from Metro Manila. As soon as we are ready and the aircraft is okay to fly, it can be flown,” he said.
About P1.5 million worth of relief items were also preared by the Office of Civil Defense and Department of Social Welfare and Development to augment the resources of local government units (LGUs), he added.
Stay safe
Alejandro appealed to the public to postpone their trips especially if these are deemed unnecessary, and stay at home to keep themselves safe.
“We would like to encourage everyone that if your trips are unnecessary, don’t go out until tomorrow because it’s too dangerous. Prioritize your safety,” he said.