The number of people who died due to the impact of Tropical Storm 'Paeng' rosed to 31, an official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Friday.
In an interview, BARMM Interior and Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said Cotabato City and other 10 municipalities in Maguindanao have been affected by the flooding and landslides caused by 'Paeng'—including Parang, Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Upi, South Upi, Northern Kabuntalan, and Guindulungan.
Of the total fatalities, Sinarimbo said 16 were residents of Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 were from Datu Blah Sinsuat, and five were from Upi while seven people were also recorded missing in Datu Blah Sinsuat.
Sinarimbo said the flood water level is also rising in other municipalities due to nonstop rain since 4 a.m. on Friday.
"The regional government has issued an advisory yesterday and the disaster risk reduction management council alerted the people about the storm, there were preparations but unfortunately it is more than what people normally expect—like rainfall, we monitored a heavy rain the whole night, even until now, rain continues. It may not as heavy as last night but the water volume keeps rising," Sinarimbo said in Filipino.
He added the storm 'Paeng' has affected roughly 90 percent of villages in Cotabato City alone, with floodwater already reaching the roofs of some houses.
BARMM rescue teams have already been deployed in concerned areas, he said.