Paeng death toll in BARMM reaches 54

The death toll in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng has increased to 54, an official said Monday.

Interviewed over dzBB’s Super Radyo, BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said retrieval operations are ongoing after the powerful storm ravaged the region over the weekend.

“Nag-resume ‘yung retrieval operations doon sa area na ang report sa atin ay mataas ang casualties. Ito ‘yung Barangay Kusiong, nag set-up tayo ng incident command post…pina-centralize natin ‘yung pang ma-manage ng commanding-general noong 16th Infantry Division,” said Sinarimbo. “Kahapon, dalawa ang na-retrieved. Today, gagamit ng mga heavy equipment. Nag-deploy na kahapon ang Ministry of Public Works and Highways para matulugan ang paghuhukay.”

(We resumed the retrieval operations in the areas with reports of high casualties. This is in Barangay Kusiong [in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte]. We set up an incident command post but we asked the commander-general of the 16th Infantry Division to centralize the management.  Yesterday, we retrieved two individuals. Today, we’ll use heavy equipment. The Ministry of Public Works and Highways deployed heavy equipment.)

“Mayroon [ding] mga missing, '' he added. (There are also some people missing.)

Latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed a total number of fatalities due to Paeng has climbed to 98. A total of 69 persons were injured while 63 were missing, it added.

BARMM was placed under a state of calamity on Saturday, October 29 due to the onslaught of Paeng in the region.

Sinarimbo said around 500,000 individuals were affected by the tropical cyclone, with several areas remaining flooded.  Major roads and bridges were likewise damaged, he added.

“Ang pinakauna na hihingin namin, ‘yung areas ng national highways at roads na andito and bridges, sana maayos kaagad kasi under ng national DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] ‘yun,” said Sinarimbo.

(The first thing we will ask for is for the national highways, roads, and bridges in these areas to be repaired immediately.)

“Halimbawa itong Mituan bridge sa Parang, naputol, so ‘yung travel from Cotabato City to Marawi City, Cotabato to Pagadian, hindi makakadaan dyan. And then itong Labo-labo Bridge…so pati pag-transport ng relief goods ay affected,” he said.

(Example is the Mituan Bridge in Parang. It has been damaged, so travel from Cotabato City to Marawi City and Cotabato to Pagadian was affected. Meanwhile, the transport of relief goods was affected because the Labo-Labo Bridge was damaged.)

“And then power sa Datu Blah kailangan din ma-restore ‘yun. Ang isang pinag-uusapan ay baka may generator machines ang national government na pwedeng ipahiram,” Sinarimbo added.

(We also need to restore the power in Datu Blah Sinsuat. One of the things we’re discussing is if the national government has generator machines they can lend.)

Datu Odin Sinsuat death toll at 20

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities in Datu Odin Sinsuat, the town in Maguindanao del Norte where Barangay Kusiong is situated, is now at 20, according to Abby Caballero’s report on “24 Oras.”

The bodies were found amid the ongoing search and rescue operations in the area where five residents also remain missing after flash floods and landslides hit the area.

An aerial inspection by the Philippine Coast Guard of the affected vicinities showed Paeng's trail of destruction, including damaged houses.

Rains have stopped in the province, the report said. However, officials are still advising residents to be vigilant and immediately evacuate from their houses should the downpour start again. — BM, GMA News