48 reported dead, almost 1 million people affected due to Paeng —NDRRMC

Forty-eight individuals reportedly died, while almost a million people were affected due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

In its 8 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC said that of the reported fatalities, 37 were already confirmed, while the remaining 11 were still being validated.

Forty of them came from the Bangsamoro region alone, followed by three in Soccsksargen, two each from Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas, and one in Bicol region.

At least 22 more individuals were reported missing, and 40 more injured.

On the other hand, a total of 932,077 people or 277,383 families were affected in 2,445 barangays in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, Bangsamoro, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

As of Sunday, 168,453 displaced people or 44,847 families remained in 2,125 evacuation centers, while 196,293 displaced people or 88,348 families were staying outside of evacuation centers.

At least 40,319 people or 10,948 families were also preemptively evacuated in various regions due to Paeng.

Damage

The damage to agriculture has reached a total of P54,965,924.13 in Western Visayas and Soccsksargen, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The NDRRMC also recorded 714 houses damaged due to Paeng —555 of which were partially damaged and 159 were totally damaged.

There were 147 roads and 53 bridges that were not passable because of Paeng.

A total of 124 cities and municipalities experienced power outages. However, power supply in 31 areas were already restored.

Eight cities and municipalities also experienced water supply interruption. None of these areas had their water supply restored yet, the NDRRMC said.

Thirty-eight areas in Eastern Visayas also had interruptions in their communication lines.

There were also 75 seaports that were reported non-operational or had suspended trips.

In airports, 143 domestic and 20 international flights were canceled.

A total of 7,782 passengers, 2,433 rolling cargoes, 68 vessels, and 20 motor bancas were also stranded in the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

Further, the NDRRMC said there were 379 flooding incidents, 60 landslides, six flash floods, 11 fallen or uprooted trees, and one roadslip due to Paeng.

Due to the storm, 662 classes and 201 work schedules were suspended.

A total of 55 cities and municipalities were also declared under the state of calamity.

The NDRRMC on Saturday recommended that the country be placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Paeng.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was hoisted over nine areas on Sunday morning as Paeng traverses the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile was raised over 28 areas.

PAGASA said Paeng will bring moderate to heavy rains over Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Pangasinan, Batanes, and the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands on Sunday morning. —KG, GMA News