Severe Tropical Storm “Nalgae” (Paeng) wreaks havoc across Philippines, death toll surpasses 70

Severe Tropical Storm “Nalgae” — known as Paeng in the Philippines — made four landfills in the Philipines by 09:00 UTC on October 29, 2022, leaving more than 70 people dead.

Nalgae made its first landfall in Virac, Catanduanes at 17:10 UTC on October 28, followed by another landfall in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, just 30 minutes later.

It then crossed the Bicol Region, exited into the Sibuyan Sea and made its third landfall in Buenavista, Quezon.

The fourth landfall took place at 00:40 UTC on October 29 in Santa Cruz, Marinduque.

Nalgae is forecast to make another landfall in the vicinity of the southeastern portion of Batangas before barreling through Cavite, Metro Manila, and the Bataan Peninsula today.

The system was last tracked over the coastal waters of San Juan, Batangas, according to the 06:00 UTC, October 29 (14:00 LT) severe weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

At the time, the center of Severe Tropical Storm “Nalgae” was located about 90 km (55 miles) SSE of Manila, Philippines.

It had maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 95 km/h (60 mph), with gusts up to 130 km/h (80 mph), while maximum 1-minute sustained winds are at 100 km/h (65 mph).

The minimum central barometric pressure was 985 hPa and the system is moving W at 20 km/h (13 mph).

Early on October 29, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it is validating reports that about 72 people have died due to the effects of the system.¹

According to its latest update (still preliminary), the NDRRMC said under validation are two deaths reported in Western Visayas, three in Soccsksargen; and 67 at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Earlier, Maguindanao officials reported 31 deaths in the province due to flash floods.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior minister, said 16 of the fatalities are from Datu Odin Sinsuat town, 10 from Datu Blah Sinsuat, and five from Upi.

“Most of the fatalities were in a sub-village near Mt. Minandar in Barangay Kusiong of Datu Odin Sinsuat,” Sinarimbo said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said it is verifying reports of 31 injured individuals in BARMM, three missing persons in Soccsksargen, and 11 more in BARMM.

NDRRMC has placed the number of affected families at 49 767, or 184 161 persons from Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and BARMM.

At least 171 homes have been damaged and 121 destroyed.

These are still preliminary figures and will change as this severe weather event continues.

References:

¹ 72 deaths due to Paeng being validated – PNA – October 29, 2022

Featured image: Tropical Storm “Nalgae” at 06:40 UTC on October 29, 2022. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers