Paeng death toll climbs to 98, BARMM hardest hit

The death toll from Tropical Storm Paeng has risen to 98, with 58 confirmed deaths and 40 still under validation.

As of Monday, the storm affected over 1.95 million individuals across various regions, with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) being the hardest hit, accounting for at least 53 fatalities.

Flash floods and landslides caused by Paeng destroyed villages in Mindanao on Friday, leading to a shift from search and rescue operations to retrieval efforts due to low chances of survival after two days.

The storm left over 900,000 people affected, with more than 364,000 displaced across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte was submerged in deep floodwaters, causing severe damage and prompting aerial inspections by the Philippine Coast Guard Aviation Force.