(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – The total number of reported deaths from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng has climbed to 98, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Monday.
The latest situation report also showed the number of injured and missing persons at 69 and 63, respectively.
Of the 98 reported deaths, 58 have been validated so far along with 42 confirmed injured and 25 missing, it added.
Out of the validated deaths, 53 are from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), three from Western Visayas and two from Soccsksargen.
Still undergoing validation are reports of 40 deaths and these can be broken into 12 from Calabarzon, one from Bicol, 16 from Western Visayas, six from Eastern Visayas, four from Zamboanga Peninsula, and one from Region 12.
For the 42 confirmed injured, the NDRRMC said that these can be broken down into 40 from BARMM and another two from Soccksargen.
Injuries undergoing validation are placed at 27 -- 12 from Bicol, seven from Calabarzon, four from Central Luzon, three from Eastern Visayas and one from Zamboanga Peninsula.
Confirmed missing as of this time are 25 -- 22 from BARMM, two from Western Visayas and one from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
While the 38 missing still undergoing validation as of this time can be broken down into 29 from Eastern Visayas, four from Western Visayas, two from Calabarzon and one each from Mimaropa and Bicol.
The NDRRMC also said that 590,990 families or 1,953, 814 individuals are so far affected by "Paeng".
Being aided in the 4,024 evacuation centers activated are 83,243 families or 243,575 persons residing in 5,108 barangays in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM and the National Capital Region (NCR).
As of this posting, 4,188 houses were reported damaged in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM, CAR and the NCR.
Partially damaged as placed at 3,499 and totally damaged at 689. Infrastructure damage was estimated at PHP757,841,175 and these were reported in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region.
As this developed, Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge, and NDRRMC chair, Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. on Sunday said floods have subsided in many areas affected by "Paeng" allowing responders to bring potable water and water purifiers where they are needed.
He also said work on the restoration of power in hospitals and evacuation centers, and for the resumption of electricity and telecommunications services, are now ongoing.
Faustino said that he has directed all the regional agencies of the Office of the Civil Defense to continue their relief operations in all the places hit by the typhoon.
He assured the Filipino people that the government’s assistance does not end in Luzon and Mindanao, as they are also scheduled to visit the Visayas.
Faustino said that he has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to make their land, sea, and air assets available for any activities that need to be done in the aftermath of the typhoon.
44 road sections closed
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that 44 road sections in nine regions are closed to traffic due to the effects of the tropical cyclone.
Based on the situational report on national roads and bridges as of 6 a.m. Monday, Western Visayas recorded the most number of affected roads with 14, followed by the Cordillera with 11.
Also affected are six roads in Cagayan Valley and three each in Calabarzon, Soccsksargen and BARMM.
Two road sections are closed in Mimaropa and one each in Central Luzon and Eastern Visayas.
The roads were rendered impassable due to landslide, road cut, road slip, soil collapse, mud flow, fallen trees, damaged bridge approach, high water elevation/flooding, fallen debris, collapsed bridge, soil erosion, road depression.
Other factors that resulted in the closure of road sections are bridge settlement, damaged slope protection, reflected cracks between bridge abutment and approach, settlement of pier, scoured embankment, scoured and collapsed approach, bridge abutment failure, and scoured bridge abutment.
On the other hand, the DPWH reported that 26 road sections have limited access: -- 12 in Western Visayas, five in Calabarzon, three each in Central Luzon and BARMM and one each in Cagayan Valley and Zamboanga Peninsula.
These roads have restricted access due to high water elevation/flooding, scoured bridge approach, damaged stone masonry, scouring on bridge abutment, collapsed road slope protection, road cut/depression, rock fall, and damaged/scoured bridge approach.
The DPWH has installed warning signs/barricades, continuous monitoring of national roads and bridges is being done, as well as identification of alternate routes.
Likewise, clearing operations are ongoing, coordination with the Ministry of Public Works-BARMM and concerned local government units and provided assistance to stranded people.
It also deployed 272 pieces of equipment and 2,899 personnel to five regions -- Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol.
The DPWH added that all other national roads and bridges in other affected regions are passable to all types of vehicles. (PNA)
