Death toll from ‘habagat,’ storms rises to 7

TILLING THROUGH STORM Against the heavy rains for much of last week, a farmer in Pulilan, Bulacan, works his land on Saturday, preparing the soil for the next rice crop. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

SAN ILDEFONSO, ILOCOS SUR—At least seven people have died in drowning and landslide incidents as persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” and recent tropical depressions triggered flooding, landslides and preemptive evacuations across several provinces in Luzon.

The latest fatality was a boy who was initially reported missing on Friday after drowning in a river in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. Authorities have yet to release details about the victim, whose body was recovered on Saturday.

Early reports recorded six other weather-related fatalities across Luzon. The deaths included drownings in Luna, La Union and Alaminos City, Pangasinan. Two others were killed when a landslide hit an eatery in La Trinidad, Benguet, while two siblings were struck by a falling boulder in Rodriguez, Rizal, amid persistent rains.

In La Union, 588 families (1,756 people) were staying in 50 evacuation centers, while 354 families (1,161 people) were in alternative shelters due to heavy rains and floods.

In Central Luzon, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported three flooded villages in Nueva Ecija and one in Zambales as of Friday night.

Metro flooding

Eight evacuation centers in the region remained open on Saturday, sheltering 216 families (697 people). Another 233 families (790 people) sought shelter elsewhere.

According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), a low pressure area (LPA) tracked at 2 p.m. Saturday about 1,760 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

In Metro Manila, several areas in Quezon City were submerged in up to knee-deep floodwater from heavy rains due to the effects of the habagat on Saturday.

According to Pagasa, heavy rainfall may prevail over Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon until Sunday due to the enhanced habagat.

Port officials in southern Luzon ordered the cancellation of interisland trips due to poor weather conditions. —REPORTS FROM KENNETH TABIN, YOLANDA SOTELO, TONETTE OREJAS, JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT, DELFIN MALLARI JR., MADONNA VIROLA AND HOLLY BACAY

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