The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday that a total of 21 people were reported dead in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon amid the impact of the southwest monsoon or Habagat enhanced by Tropical Cyclone Carina.
In Calabarzon, the PNP said, 11 people were killed amid the inclement weather, including five in Batangas and three each in Cavite and Rizal. Most of the victims died due to drowning, landslides, electrocution, and fallen trees.
One person was missing in Cavite, while six were injured in Rizal as of posting time.
In Central Luzon, three people were killed including two in Angeles City, Pampanga and one in Bustos, Bulacan. They died in landslide and drowning incidents, according to the PNP.
Three people were reported injured in the region.
Meanwhile in Metro Manila, seven individuals were reported dead including two in Manila and one each in Malabon, Valenzuela, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, and Pasay. They died due to drowning and electrocution.
Eight people were reported injured in Quezon City.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday morning reported fewer fatalities at 14 due to the Habagat, Carina, and Tropical Cyclone Butchoy.
Based on NDRRMC’s 8 a.m. report, eight people were confirmed dead including four in Zamboanga and one each in Northern Mindanao, Davao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Metro Manila. The NDRRMC was validating the reports on five fatalities in Calabarzon and one in Bangsamoro.
Habagat, Carina, and Butchoy affected a total of 1,115,272 people or 245,298 families in all regions in the country except in Eastern Visayas, according to the same NDRRMC report.
Of the affected population, 51,726 people or 12,199 families were staying in evacuation centers while 578,158 individuals or 116,878 families were taking shelter in other places.
‘Surprised’
Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the amount of rain that Habagat and Carina brought to their city was surprising.
“Nabigla kami dahil nga na hindi natin inaasahan yung ganung kalakas ng ulan at dami ng tubig sa mahabang oras,” Teodoro told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.
(We were surprised because we did not expect heavy rains and that much water over a long period of time.)
“Ang Ondoy mga six hours ang pag-ulan na noon. Ngayon, more than eight hours ang naransan nating tuloy-tuloy na pag-ulan,” he added.
(During Ondoy, it had been raining for about six hours. Now, we experienced continuous rain for more than eight hours.)
Over 30,000 residents or around 5,800 families have been displaced as the Marikina River water level reached a third alarm, prompting authorities to implement a forced evacuation.
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council president Francis Zamora said that for now, local government units are focusing more on rescue and relief operations.
Zamora said that over the next few days, mayors are expected to discuss steps to reduce the risk of flooding.
“We will make an assessment as a council probably in a few days para malaman ano ‘yung mga dapat naming hakbang na gawin upang hindi na ho maulit ito,” Zamora said.
(We will make an assessment as a council probably in a few days to know what steps we should take to prevent this from happening again.)
In San Juan, over 2,500 people have evacuated amid the inclement weather.
Provisions for evacuees
Meanwhile in Quezon City, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office spokesperson Peachy de Leon said that hot meals are being served in evacuation centers.
“Sa mge evacuation centers, we make sure na may mga hot meals na sini-serve from the city government,” she told Unang Balita in an interview.
(At the evacuation centers, we make sure that there are hot meals served from the city government.)
According to her, the city government is also looking out for the health of the evacuees since they are more prone to diseases while staying in evacuation centers.
“Nandyan ang city health naka-monitor para maiwasan po naming na magkahawaan ng sakit. We will make sure also na available ‘yung anti-leptospirosis na medicine kasi may mga sumuong po sa baha. In fact, ang city vet is there para i-check din ‘yung mga na-rescue na dogs and cats,” she added.
(The city health office is there monitoring so that we can avoid the spread of disease. We will also make sure that the anti-leptospirosis medicine is available because there are people who walked through floods. In fact, the city veterinarian is there to check the rescued dogs and cats.)
A total of 55,327 people or 15,819 families were staying in evacuation centers in Quezon City as of posting time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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