At least 31 individuals were reportedly dead in Maguindanao due to landlisdes and floods caused by Tropical Storm Paeng, a regional official said on Friday.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, in an interview, said rescuers retrieved 16 bodies from Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 in Datu Blah Sinsuat and five in Upi town.
He also confirmed that flooding and landslide caused the deaths of the victims.
Sinarimbo noted that seven people were also missing in Datu Blah.
Continuous rains submerged several towns in Maguindanao Del Norte in neck-deep flood waters following the continuous rain brought by TS Paeng.
According to the official, an entire community was allegedly washed out in Barangay Kusiong at the base of Mount Minandar in Datu Odin Sinsuat.
Sinarimbo said a relative went to the Operation Center and reported that the entire community was washed out.
"Natabunan daw yung boung mga bahay nila, yung community mismo (Their homes, the community were supposedly buried under a landslide)," he said.
In its latest weather bulletin, PAGASA placed at least 13 areas in Luzon and Visayas were hoisted under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Paeng accelerates west northwestward while maintaining its strength.
