Highlights
Social Media is very active in the response to the Habagat in the Phillippines. People needing immediate help due to Tropical Storm Maring used Twitter with hashtag #RescuePH, early reports indicated almost 100 people were rescued due to the unified hashtag scheme. SMART Communications, telecom provider, issued emergency instructions for flood victims. According to the NDRRMC update issued on 20 August 2013, effects of the storm have left at least seven 15 dead. Some 600,000 people (approximately 125,000 families) have been affected across 503 barangays (villages) in five regions of Luzon . At the moment, some 41,000 people had sought safer shelter in 200 evacuation centres . An additional 90,000 people are staying with friends and relatives. Classes have been suspended at all levels in the National Capital Region, as well as offices since 20 August 2013 as major roads were impassable due to the massive flooding.