TEAMS composed of the Philippine Coast Guard, police and local emergency responders deliver relief goods to residents in remote areas in Buguey, Cagayan who were affected by typhoon Maring. 鈥 PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

THE DEATH toll from severe tropical storm Maring, with international name Kompasu, climbed to 13 as of Wednesday with 11 others missing and three injured, the national disaster management council reported.听听

The disaster agency said it was听still validating reports but local authorities have confirmed at least 11 deaths with听four听in Palawan, four in Benguet, two in Ilocos Sur, and one in Cagayan.听听听听

Search and rescue operations听were continuing for those reported missing听mostly after landslides.听听

A total of 107 areas across several regions were flooded while more than 10 landslide incidents were recorded, according to the disaster agency.听听

Relief operations were also underway with more than 11,500 people displaced and staying either in evacuation centers or with relatives.听听听

Agricultural damage has reached P692 million, affecting 32,390 farmers听and fisherfolk,听according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).听听

In a bulletin released on Wednesday afternoon, the听DA听said the storm听struck听36,537 hectares of farm land, resulting in 43,984 metric tons (MT) of lost produce such as rice, corn and other high-value crops.听听

Affected areas span across the regions of听Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol,听and Western Visayas.听

Losses in rice crops accounted for majority of the damage at P498.1 million, equivalent to 30,183 MT. Damage to corn reached P119.8 million, with 7,710 MT lost.听听听

Damaged high value crops, including assorted vegetables, bananas and strawberries,听was estimated at听P56.1 million.听听

The听DA听said it is providing a quick response fund of P172 million to听help听restore the affected areas听as well as seeds and听drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.听听

The department听is also extending emergency loans of up to P20,000听for听each听farmer听with zero interest and no collateral, payable in听10听years.听听听

Road clearing operations were also ongoing but 15 road sections were still impassable as of Wednesday morning, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways, with 11听in Cordillera,听two听in Ilocos,听and听one听each听in Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas.听听听听

Maring, the 13th听typhoon in the country this year, entered on Oct. 7 as a tropical depression. It absorbed the remnants of a succeeding typhoon named Nando and intensified into a severe tropical storm, packing winds of up to听100听kilometers per hour (kms/h) and听gustiness of up to 125 kms/h. It exited the Philippine area on Oct. 12.听鈥斕with a report from听Angelica Y. Yang听

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