the president of Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ordered this Saturday (29) the urgent distribution of aid in a southern province of the country, where landslides were triggered by Tropical Storm Nalgae, which has killed 45 people so far.
Rain and strong winds hit the Philippine capital Manila and surrounding areas for most of this Saturday as the storm forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and disrupted holiday travel across much of the country.
Nalgae is the second deadliest cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2022, and the disaster agency has reported 45 deaths in the country, mostly in Maguindanao province. Another 33 people were injured and 17 are missing.
“We could have done better in Maguindanao in terms of preparation. The 40 deaths, with 10 people missing there, is a (number) a little too high,” said Marcos.
He ordered the immediate distribution of drinking water and purification systems to the province and other severely affected southern parts of the Philippines.
In the capital region of the country, which includes Manila and other cities, flooding has prompted authorities to suspend classes and sporting events.
Airlines canceled 116 domestic and international flights to and from the Philippines’ main gateway. Nearly 7,500 passengers and workers, and 107 vessels, were stranded in the country’s ports, the coast guard said.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan on Saturday ordered the closure of the city’s cemeteries, where millions of visitors were expected during the All Saints’ Day long weekend.
Nalgae maintained its strength, with winds of up to 95 km/h and gusts of up to 115 km/h, as it sliced through the island of Luzon and headed into the South China Sea, the state weather agency said.
Another tropical depression that is gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean could enter Philippine territory on Tuesday, he added.
Nearly 170,000 people were forced from their homes by the storm, and close to a third of them were sheltered in evacuation centers, according to government figures.
Marcos said that aid should be stepped up once the storm clears land areas – which is expected to be on Sunday morning, according to the latest forecasts.
Source: CNN Brasil
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