Severe tropical storm Nalgae, locally known as Paeng, continues to barrel through the Southeast Asian country since it first landed in the eastern Visayas on 26 October. Nalgae made its fifth landfall on Saturday at 8PM in the northern Cavite province, raising the alarm to signal no. 3 throughout the entire Luzon region as it traversed the area with maximum sustained winds of 95km (59 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 115km per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Recall that the storm has wreaked havoc in the southern and central Philippines causing flash floods and landslides, leaving at least 45 deaths, 18 missing and 33 injured. Officials stated that as of this time, the directly affected population totaled 184,161 persons or 49,767 families residing in Regions 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, Caraga, and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to declare a national state of calamity for at least one year following the onslaught of Nalgae.
“The total displaced or served population as per our report this morning is 8,247 persons or 2,211 families who are currently taking temporary shelters inside and outside the various evacuation centers. So far, we have monitored 194 areas as still flooded, as well as 57 roads and 12 bridges that are not passable,” stated Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., officer-in-charge at the Department of National Defense (DND) and chairman of the NDRRMC, in a press briefing.
The tropical storm Nalgae (Paeng) is the Philippines’ 15th tropical cyclone for 2022 (and 4th for October) as the country heads to its annual observance of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day.
