9 dead, 11 missing as ‘Maring’ batters Luzon

MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it is validating reports of nine deaths and 11 missing persons due to Severe Tropical Storm Maring.

In a message to reporters on Tuesday, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said the nine fatalities include three from a landslide in Central Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet; one from a landslide in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet; one due to drowning in Claveria, Cagayan and four from a flash flood in Barangay Batang-Batang, Narra, Palawan.

The missing persons, meanwhile, include three from a landslide in Baguio City; two from a landslide in Central Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet; one from a landslide in Tuding, Itogon, Benguet, one due to drowning in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, and four from a flash flood in Barangay Batang-Batang, Narra, Palawan.

Also undergoing verification are reports of two injured persons in the towns of Buguias and Itogon.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC and its regional officers are now coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police regarding possible rescue missions.

It also added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has standby resources worth PHP1.071 billion which could be used in aiding those in evacuation centers.

This can be broken down into PHP128 million standby fund, PHP219 million worth of family food packs, and another PHP722 million worth of food and non-food items.