MANILA, Philippines — Several netizens have called for help for Mindanao, as Severe Tropical Storm Paeng also affected several areas in the region despite the cyclone being located near Luzon.
On social media sites, particularly Twitter, the hashtag #MindanaoNeedsHelp has been trending, along with photos showing the devastation brought by Paeng between late Thursday to early Saturday.
Several netizens claimed that the casualty count in the southern portions of the country, particularly over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), has been rising.
“Many people drowned and died!! Marami rin ang nawawala!! Why is no one talking about it here on twt?? Mindanao need serious help rn, please do spread this info!!” a Twitter user said.
Many people drowned and died!! Marami rin ang nawawala!! Why is no one talking about it here on twt?? Mindanao need serious help rn, please do spread this info!! #PaengPH #MindanaoNeedsHelp
— luvy (@chaerryitzy) October 28, 2022
The Cotabato City and all of the Mindanao place we need a help because of what happened this is my place. And more child and teenage are Dead here because of the landslide's and flood please help Us😭😭#PaengPH pic.twitter.com/mNhliRjoQR
— skirt (@princessmea12) October 28, 2022
Another user on Facebook claimed there are no news reports about Paeng’s onslaught in Mindanao, adding also that many have been affected by the flooding.
“Dahil hindi po nababalita ang nangyayari sa Mindanao ngayon, kami na po ang magbibigay ng impormasyon sa nangyayari sa aming lugar. Due to the Typhoon ‘Paeng’, many families from various municipalities, barangays and cities of Mindanao has been affected, and we are really in need of help,” the post said.
“Marami na pong namatay at natangay ng baha, may mga gumuho na pong bahay sa iba’t ibang lugar, at karamihan pa po ay kailangang pang ma-rescue. May mga nangangailangan po ng tulong sa mga lugar na masyadong tago sa city, sila po ang masyadong naapektuhan ng bagyo. Sana po matulungan niyo po kami,” the Facebook user added.
On Facebook, the hashtag #MindanaoNeedsHelp has been posted over 20,000 times.
Paeng was last spotted near Catanduanes in Bicol Region, but the wide diameter of the cyclone — said to be almost 1,000 kilometers according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) — resulted in Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals being raised from Cagayan Valley in Luzon all the way to Northern Mindanao.
Earlier, it was reported that at least 31 have died in Maguindanao del Norte due to rain-induced landslides.
READ: 31 dead as Paeng triggers flash floods, landslides in Maguindanao del Norte
According to the BARMM interim government, evacuees from Maguindanao del Norte are currently being assisted by rescue and social welfare officers.
“Evacuees from Brgys. Badak, Tamontaka, and Poblacion Dalican of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte are being assisted by teams from the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD),” BARMM said in a Facebook post.
“The evacuees, who were displaced due to TS Paeng, are currently located in Dalican Terminal of the same municipality,” they added.