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MANILA, Philippines — The death toll in Maguindanao del Norte following the flash floods and landslides unleashed by Tropical Storm Paeng on Friday has climbed to 31, a local official said.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence Naguib Sinarimbo told INQUIRER.net that 10 deaths were reported in Datu Blah Sinsuat, 16 in Datu Odin Sinsuat, and five in Upi.
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Sinarimbo added that nine people were also reported as missing. Three are reported missing in Upi, and and six in Datu Blah Sinsuat.
Sinarimbo said the local government fears that the death toll will still rise as some residents remain missing amid ongoing search and rescue operations.
“The numbers initially indicated to us from the field are really saddening,” Sinarimbo said in a mix of English and Filipino in a phone interview.
Sinarimbo added that 10 municipalities and one city in Maguindanao del Norte are being battered by inclement weather brought by Paeng.
No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal was raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Maguindanao del Norte.
But the state meteorologist said BARMM, which includes Maguindanao del Norte, will experience moderate to heavy with, at times heavy rain until Saturday due to Paeng.
Paeng’s center was estimated 155 km east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, according to Pagasa.
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