Habagat, storms leave at least 12 dead, affect over 382,000 Filipinos

MJ Farrley Ong

At least 10 people have died and more than 382,000 others affected during the days of heavy rain brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, government agencies reported Sunday, August 9.

About 110,000 families across eight regions were affected by the weather disturbances, with flooding, landslides, and other hazards reported in several parts of Luzon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The affected regions included Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon.

Six deaths and seven people were injured in the past three days, the NDRRMC said, although the casualties remained subject to validation. Three more deaths were separately reported in Antipolo City and Batangas on Sunday, increasing the reported death toll to at least 10. 

Batangas authorities reported three deaths linked to the heavy rains, including one person who was electrocuted in Lipa City, another who drowned in San Jose Sico in Batangas City, and a man who was buried in a landslide in Sta. Teresita.

As of Monday morning, August 10, the Office of Civil Defense reported that the death toll had risen to 12, with eight people still missing and 11 others injured due to the harsh effects of the habagat and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay.

OCD Assistant Secretary Laurence Mina said the fatalities included three from Rizal, Three from Batangas and two from Benguet, while the locations of the remaining four deaths had yet to be determined. Reported cause of death included landslides, rockslides, fallen trees, electrocution, and drowning.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, recorded a higher death toll as of 6 a.m. Monday based on reports from its regional units. The PNP reported fatalities in the Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, including deaths caused by landslides, drowning, electrocution, rockfalls, and fallen trees. 

The PNP also recorded 13 injured individuals and six missing persons. PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said that the figures were still subject to validation and that differences in the tallies could be due to varying criteria for classifying deaths.

Co said the PNP was coordinating with the OCD to reconcile the figures and establish a unified and accurate count.

Flooding forces evacuation

More than 180 areas in northern Luzon, including parts of Calabarzon and Mimaropa, were reported flooded, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

In Central Luzon alone, 618 families, or 2,039 people were staying in 46 evacuation centers, while severe flooding affected at least 132 villages across Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

143 families, or 505 individuals in Batangas, were evacuated to safer areas as rains intensified in low-lying and flood-prone communities.

Authorities conducted clearing operations following reports of fallen trees and flooded roads. Electricity, water and communication services were restored on the same day with the help of the city’s Incident Management Team and utility companies.

In Calabarzon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 3,640 affected families in 50 barangays across Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas. More than 400 of these families were staying in 27 evacuation centers.

DSWD said it had prepositioned 227,216 family food packs, along with 11,630 ready-to-eat food packs and 11,119 non-food items across 78 warehouses in the region.

Government agencies respond to the call

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to remain on heightened alert and closely coordinate water releases from dams and reservoirs to protect downstream communities, Malacañang said. 

The OCD said 569 local government units had announced early class suspensions for Monday, August 10, as flooding continued in parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

Several dams in Luzon were also closely monitored after reaching critical or spilling levels. La Mesa Dam’s water level reached 79.77 meters Sunday morning, nearing its 80.15-meter spilling level.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said continuous monsoon rains had overwhelmed major creeks and waterways in the capital, limiting the waterways’ ability to drain floodwaters.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police mobilized personnel and resources for rescue and evacuation operations in heavily affected areas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that rains would continue in parts of Luzon and Visayas as the habagat remained the dominant weather system affecting the country.

PAGASA cautioned residents in affected areas to remain vigilant against possible flash floods and landslides as moderate to heavy rains continue.