Rains kill 12, displace hundreds in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Nine people, including an infant, were killed in a landslide that buried houses in a community in Quezon City as torrential rains battered the capital region on Tuesday morning.

The youngest of the fatalities in the tragedy that took place in Barangay Commonwealth was 1-month-old Jonica Castulo.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said the infant died with her siblings Jonathan Castulo, 3; Joshua Castulo, 2; and their mother Jessica Baylon, 23.

The other fatalities were identified as Jayvee Baylon, 20; Jethro Baylon, 18; Jason Baylon, 14; Jessie Lee Joy Baylon, 6; and Cecilia Baylon, 49, who died hours after being rushed at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The two families were trapped in thick mud after their houses were buried by the landslide. The incident took place around 7 a.m., while Metro Manila was being battered by "heavy to intense" rain.

The survivors in the tragedy were identified as Lydia Lyn Simbulan, 40; Maria Leslyn Simbulan, 21; and Jesie Baylon Jr, 24. They were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.

More fatalities

Meanwhile, one more person has been confirmed killed in Malabon City, which was submerged in floods and was experiencing power outage.

Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri also reported that one person has been reported killed and one more missing in his area.

Echiverri said that the local government is working double time to rescue several residents trapped in their homes' roofs. He said that four villages in the city were submerged in roof-deep floods.

Security guard Benjie Dumancil, meanwhile, died after being electrocuted at the flooded corner of Araneta Avenue and Bayani Street in Barangay Doña Imelda in Quezon City at past 7 a.m.

Dumancil, 22, who was assigned to a branch of Land Bank of the Philippines, had just arrived from work at that time.

The bank had yet to open at that time, and Dumancil, who was then still not wearing his uniform, went out to buy something.

In Bataan province, one child was reported missing after being swept by a flashflood that hit Orion town.

Two houses in San Mateo town in Rizal province, meanwhile, were buried by a landslide. Two more were swept by raging floodwaters.

There was still no confirmation on the number of people who were inside the four houses when the incidents happened.

Rescuers have also rushed to San Mateo to look for survivors.

Massive flooding

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin that widespread flooding was reported in Metro Manila particularly in the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, Muntinlupa,Makati, Navotas, Parañaque, Quezon, Marikina and Pasig.

Several roads in the capital region were also rendered impassable particularly in Valenzuela, Quezon City, Taguig, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Malabon, Pasay, 

Parañaque, Pateros, and Makati.

It said that flooding were also reported in the capital region's outskirts, including Calasiao, Pangasinan; Meycauayan and Obando in Bulacan; Cardona and Cainta in Rizal; Sta, Rosa, Biñan, Calamba, San Pedro, Cabuyao, Los Baños, Bay, Victoria, Sta. Cruz, Lumban, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Mabitac, Sta. Maria and Famy in Laguna;  Noveleta and Gen. Trias in Cavite;  Bacolor, Apalit, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, San Simon, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Sasmuan, Sto tomas in Pampanga; and Paniqui and La Paz in Tarlac.

It said that a total of 46 cities and municipalities in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila were affected by flooding.

The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 123,484 families or 541,498 persons were affected by floods in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

A total of 129,498 people are either staying in evacuation centers or their relatives' and friends' homes. - Reinir Padua