At least 48 dead, 48K displaced as 'Paeng' weakens over West Philippine Sea

October 30, 2022 | 10:14am

 The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has
reported 48 deaths, with 33 of the confirmed casualties from the Bangsamoro region,
due to tropical storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae).

Among the 48 reported casualties, 37 have been confirmed, while 11 reported deaths
have yet to be validated. Paeng also left 40 injured, while 22 individuals remain
missing. Casualties may rise as local disaster management councils send in reports to
the NDRRMC.

Paeng weakened into a tropical storm category at 2 a.m. on Sunday after passing
through the vicinity of Candelaria in Zambales. The state weather bureau’s 5 a.m.
bulletin estimated Paeng’s center was 85 kilometers west northwest of Iba, Zambales. 

While moving over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA expects Paeng to re-intensify
into a severe tropical storm in the next 24 hours. Paeng may srengthen into a typhoon
category by Monday evening or Tuesday morning, before weakening by late Tuesday
due to another surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

Paeng affected 277,383 families and 932,077 individuals cross 14 regions in the
country, from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon to Central Visayas, the
Davao Region, and down to the Caraga and Bangsamoro region. 

The NDRRMC reported 40,319 individuals were evacuated before the onslaught of
the storm.

Despite this though, 364,746 individuals have been displaced and half of whom have
since been evacuated across 2,125 of the country’s evacuation centers. Assistance
worth P5.11 million has been distributed so far, mostly through the form of family
food packs. 

Organizations such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

(UNICEF) and Save the Children have expressed intent to support government-led
response. UNICEF on Saturday said it is already coordinating with the Bangsamoro
government to assess the needed response to aid children and their families in the
region. 

Meanwhile, agricultural damage was estimated at P54.965 million, affecting the

livelihoods of over 500 farmers and fisherfolk. — Kaycee Valmonte

SOURCE:At least 48 dead, 48K displaced as 'Paeng' weakens over West

Philippine Sea | Philstar.com