Typhoon Maring: What's happening and how can we help?

Severe tropical storm Maring (international name Kompasu) has heavily hit the northern areas of the Philippines, with many residents of Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa and CAR regions seeking refuge, or worse, being fatally affected by the typhoon.

While it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 11 a.m., the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that over 1,638 individuals, or 478 families, were affected by Maring.

They also reported that over 850 persons or 247 families sought temporary shelter in evacuation centers, with 24 roads and 10 bridges reported as impassable in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and CAR.

NDRRMC also said that 1,585 individuals, or 465 families, were evacuated in the Cagayan Valley and Eastern Visayas regions. 

Per an Oct. 12, 5:00 PM PAGASA-DOST report, Maring is continuing to accelerate while moving westward toward the West Philippine Sea. It is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Hainan, China on the evening of Oct. 13.