9 reported dead, 11 missing due to Maring —NDRRMC

Nine people were reported dead while 11 were missing following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Maring, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.

In an 8 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the three fatalities were due to a landslide incident in Central Ambiong in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Another fatality was reported in separate landslide incident, this time in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet.

In Claveria, Cagayan, a person reportedly drowned, while in Narra, Palawan, a flash flood reportedly killed four people.

The NDRRMC said it is still validating these reports on fatalities.

Meanwhile, two people were reported injured in Buguias, Benguet, and Itogon, Benguet, according to the NDRRMC.

The same report also said three people were missing following a landslide incident in Dominican Mirador in Baguio City.

In Central Ambiong in La Trinidad, two people were still missing after a landslide incident.

One person was also missing in Tuding, Itogon, Benguet due to landslide.

In Badoc, Ilocos Norte, one person was also missing and is believed drowned.

Meanwhile in Narra, Palawan, four people were reported missing due to flash flood.

In Sitio Lada, Barangay Pangobilian in Brooke's Point, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office evacuated residents affected by the flood.

Isinagawa ang naturang operasyon katuwang ang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).#DOTrPH ????????#CoastGuardPH#MaritimeSectorWorks pic.twitter.com/lwPEYdZI4G

— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) October 12, 2021

According to the NDRRMC, 15 flooding and four landslide incidents were reported in Ilocos, Cagayan, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Cordillera.

At least 1,638 people or 478 people were affected by Maring, the NDRRMC said. Around 850 people or 247 families were staying inside evacuation centers while 30 people or 12 families were taking shelter in the houses of their relatives and friends.

At least 24 roads and 10 bridges are not passable in Ilocos, Cagayan, Mimaropa, and Cordillera. Fourteen roads that were previously affected are now passable.

According to a report of GMA News Stringer Dennis Alipio on Unang Balita, some electric posts, waiting sheds, and trees collapsed in Ilocos Norte due to the strong winds.

The Sugpon Police Station was also hit by flood, prompting its personnel to move their equipment.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, La Union resident Rusheen Velasco said the flood rose quickly on Monday morning.

Due to this, Velasco’s family was trapped inside their home and was later on rescued by authorities.

Velasco said many of their neighbors, especially in low-lying areas, were stranded on their roofs.

According to Velasco, it was the first time they experienced such a flood in their area.

A landslide was also reported in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, according to a report on Unang Balita.

In Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, a fishing vessel ran aground. Authorities responded and took the vessels back to the water.

Meanwhile in Narra, Palawan, the crops and farm animals of some residents were destroyed and killed due to the flood.

According to a report of Nikko Sereno of GMA News Regional TV Cebu, a landslide occurred in Talisay City.

At least 26 homes were destroyed by a tornado in Zamboanga City.

In Cagayan De Oro, six houses were damaged due to the strong waves.

According to a report of Darlene Cay on Unang Balita, strawberries planted in 40 hectares were destroyed in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said that three fatalities in La Trinidad landslide were children.

In a separate interview, the La Union Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said many residents are still stranded on the roofs of their homes due to the neck-deep floods. He said rescue operations are ongoing.

As of 10 a.m., Maring's center was at 315 km west of Calayan, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 125 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.

Maring is moving westward at 20 km/h, with strong winds or higher extending outwards up to 850 km from the center, PAGASA said.

The severe tropical storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility within the day.

Palace monitoring

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Malacañang is closely monitoring the ongoing operations for Maring.

"Rescue personnel and teams from the local government units are on the scene as we assure all requests for rescue and assistance are being acted upon by all relevant agencies," he said.

Roque added that support teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PCG, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection "are likewise mobilized and deployed."

He also said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has more than P128 million in standby funds, as well as 373, 737 available family food packs.

"We ask the public to continue to take precautionary measures, observe minimum public health standards, and cooperate with their respective local authorities in case of an evacuation," Roque said.  —KBK/KG, GMA News