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Paeng leaves 28 dead, 10 missing in W. Visayas

By Nanette Guadalquiver

November 1, 2022, 5:43 pm

<p><strong>FLOOD RESCUE</strong>. Firefighters and other responders prepare to rescue flood-hit residents in Patnongon town, Antique province at the height of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng on Oct. 28, 2022. Of the 28 confirmed deaths in Western Visayas, Antique recorded the highest with 11 as of Nov. 1, data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center-6 showed. <em>(Photo courtesy of BFP-Patnongon, Antique)</em></p>

FLOOD RESCUE. Firefighters and other responders prepare to rescue flood-hit residents in Patnongon town, Antique province at the height of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng on Oct. 28, 2022. Of the 28 confirmed deaths in Western Visayas, Antique recorded the highest with 11 as of Nov. 1, data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center-6 showed. (Photo courtesy of BFP-Patnongon, Antique)

BACOLOD CITY – At least 28 persons have died while 10 others have been reported missing in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in Region 6 (Western Visayas), data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center (EOC-6) on Tuesday showed.

As of 2 p.m., the highest death toll was reported in Antique province with 11; Aklan, 6; Capiz, 6; and Iloilo, 5.

The region’s EOC remains on red alert status while monitoring is ongoing, its latest update said.

According to the report, the fatalities mostly succumbed to drowning during flash floods while some were trapped in landslides at the height of the storm over the weekend.

The 10 missing persons included six in Antique; two in Iloilo; and one each in Aklan and Negros Occidental.

Across the region, some 1.13 million individuals in 116 cities and municipalities have been affected by heavy rains and floods.

These included 216,561 persons in 13 municipalities of Aklan; 116,351 persons in 17 municipalities of Antique; 317,493 persons in 17 municipalities of Capiz; 192 persons in two municipalities of Guimaras; 327,829 persons in 36 municipalities of Iloilo Province and Iloilo City; and 152,225 persons in 31 cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

Meanwhile, some 935 evacuation centers have been opened in Western Visayas that provided shelter to 82,611 displaced individuals, including those in Aklan, 4,646; Antique, 22,088; Capiz, 13,991; Iloilo Province, 27,773; Negros Occidental, 14,105; and Guimaras, 8.

Around 5,062 houses were also affected, of which 4,550 were partially damaged and 512 were destroyed.

In Aklan, 1,487 houses were reported as partially damaged while 100 as totally damaged; Antique, 1,086 partially and 104 totally damaged; Capiz, 324 partially damaged and 12 destroyed; Iloilo Province and Iloilo City, 1,069 partially damaged and 222 torn down; and Negros Occidental, 584 partially damaged and 74 knocked down.

According to the report, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) has provided PHP22.88 million worth of family food packs, other non-food items, and financial assistance to affected families in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. (PNA)


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