Situation Overview

Tropical cyclone “Paeng” with the international name “Nalgae” was upgraded into a severe tropical storm category with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h which induced the weather bureau to place some areas under signal no. 3. Tropical wind cyclone signal number 3 has been raised at 8:00 am over Metro Manila and other eight other areas while STS Paeng traverses the Bondoc Peninsula.

The now severe tropical storm Paeng is now devastating the provinces in the Bicol Region, where several of its provinces were placed under tropical wind cyclone signal no. 2. These include the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Lagonoy, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Iriga City, Saglay and Buhi). According to the PAGSA, the typhoon has a diameter of 1,100 kilometers threatening almost the entirety of the Philippines.

Landfalls

STS Paeng made its first landfall in Virac, Catanduanes at around 1:10 am and hit the land mass of Caramoan, Camarines Sur at around 1:40 am according the PAGASA’s weather advisory. In its latest advisory, the severe tropical storm also made another landfall in Buenavista, Quezon 6:00 am.

Effects

Incidents of widespread flooding and landslides have been reported in several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao due to the incessant rains brought by the typhoon. In the Visayas region, the storm severely impacted the provinces of Capiz and Aklan with some 24, 530 families directly affected according to the report by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Many find themselves in shelters and hundreds of homes are determined to have been destroyed due to landslides and flooding. This has left thousands of people packed into shelters while the country heads into a long weekend to celebrate the day of saints and all soul’s day.

The province of Eastern Samar, particularly the municipality of Jipapad was also not spared from the flooding. The road from Barangay Bigo, Arteche to Jipapad was impassable due to high flooding. Several houses in coastal areas in barangay Dolho in Bato Leyte were washed away by the flood effect of STS Paeng. According to the Municipal Disaster Risks Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Bato, rescue operation is still underway. In Capiz, several roads are no longer passable to all types of vehicles due to flooding, particularly in Sitio Bitsihan in the town of Mambusao in Capiz.

Meanwhile, incessant rains caused by the typhoon flooded Cotabato City and at least five localities in Maguindanao, with officials ordering the suspension of work and classes in the affected areas. A “state of calamity” has been declared in the city of Cotabato, where some 67,000 residents have been affected by the storm.

Some areas in Zamboanga City in Mindanao are also experiencing waist-deep floods submerging thousands of homes and properties. Early indications also imply loss of life in the province despite mass evacuations by authorities. To date, Zamboanga City was also placed in a state of calamity with approval from its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Mindanao seems to be the hardest hit by the typhoon as several areas in the province were submerged in the flood.

The province of Quezon was not also spared from the devastation of STS Paeng. Several homes in San Andres, Quezon were reportedly destroyed due to the storm’s impact. Storms are expected to hit the capital Manila and nearby provinces over the weekend, state weather officials say, as Nalgae cuts through the main Luzon Island.

Source: National Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Council, CNN, PAGASA, Philippine News Agency, DSWD, CDRRMO Zamboanga, PDRRMO-Iloilo

Affected Populations

STS Paeng has escalated fear all throughout the country as it already taking numerous lives as news rolls in. As of this writing, the death toll from STS Paeng stands at 72 while 14 are reported missing and since the tropical storm continues to rage, the total is expected to rise according to the NDRRMC. Sixty-seven deaths were in the province of Maguindanao. Fifty of the said number came from Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 from Datu Blah Sinsuat and 7 from Upi, Maguindanao. The majority of the deaths were attributed to flooding and the rest to landslides.

In the data gathered by our regional partner Tarabang sa Bicol Inc. at least 4,098 individuals or 1,098 families fled for their safety in the municipality of Caramoan.

Source: MDRRMO Caramoan

In Visayas, Capiz has the most affected families with 17,542; Aklan, 4,649; Iloilo, 869; Negros Occidental, 792; and Antique with 678 affected families. Of the flood-hit families, 2,992 are staying in various evacuation centers. Affected barangays in Aklan reached 26 while Capiz has 78, Antique has 15, Iloilo with six, and 14 in Negros Occidental. In the Municipality of Bato in Leyte, a total of 200 families were reportedly affected.

In Zamboanga City in Mindanao region, floods spawned by the severe tropical storm Paeng left 4 persons missing and more or less 3,000 families inundated. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) recorded a total of 42 barangays affected by the flash floods with 3 barangays still on evacuation alert. The number of affected families in barangays is as follows;

The figures are expected to increase as assessment is still ongoing in the affected barangays as of this writing. Meanwhile, the latest data from the Philippine Coast Guard showed that 1,044 passengers and 353 rolling cargoes are stranded in various ports and piers in Iloilo and Negros Occidental as a result of trip cancellations.

Source: National Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Council, Tarabang sa Bicol, CDRRMO-Zamboanga City, Ilolo PDRRMO, Philippine Coast Guard

Emergency Response Efforts

1. CDRC is closely monitoring STS “Paeng” since it was spotted by PAGASA and also
monitoring the situation in the affected areas and constantly updating situation reports.
2. CDRC is also closely coordinating with its regional centers in affected areas to collect information on the situation and needs of the ground.
3. On October 28, CDRC activated its Emergency Response Team for STS Paeng. CDRC activated its Emergency Response Team ready for deployment within the affected areas in anticipation to any eventualities brought about by the effects of STS Paeng.
4. CDRC’s Regional Centers are started coordinating with their respective LGU partners, particularly with the Local DRRM Offices in the affected cities and provinces.
5. Emergency Response Teams of the respective affected regional centers have been monitoring developments in the local situation and continue to send data from the ground.
6. CDRC and its regional center on the ground continue to monitor the situation and have begun issuing situation reports.

Resources Available

1. Standby emergency funds
2. Prepositioned goods at the CDRC warehouse
3. Monetary and in-kind donations

Coordination

Regional Center
1. Tarabang sa Bicol Inc. (TABI)
2. Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center (STPRC)
3. Panay Center for Disaster Response (PCDR)
4. Leyte Center for Development (LCDe)
5. Community Response for Enlightenment, Service, and Transformation (CREST)
6. Lambak Cagayan Mission Center, Inc. (LCMCI)
7. Disaster Response Center (DIRECT)

Contacts

1. Cora Jazmines, Local Partnerships Department, 0928-182-4969, lpd@cdrc-phil.com
2. Dom Ybera, Deputy Executive Director, dybera@gmail.com