9 dead from monsoon, back-to-back cyclones

MANILA, Philippines — Several flights were canceled, classes and office work suspended and flooding caused massive traffic jams yesterday, as the death toll from the heavy rains, floods and landslides in various parts of the country due to Typhoon Carina rose to nine.

Two persons were injured and one reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The fatalities include four persons in Zamboanga Peninsula, two in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and one each in Northern Mindanao and the Davao Region.

In Barangay 96, Tondo, Manila, a teenager was found dead after drowning under Infanta Bridge on Monday night.

According to police, 13-year-old Khaydel Buensoleso was swimming in the Infanta River at around 6:20 p.m. when a heavy current swept him away. Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assisted in the search and rescue and later found the victim’s body.

Heavy rains and flooding affected 179,744 families or 866,483 people in the same areas and more in Western and Central Visayas, Central Mindanao, the CARAGA Region and the MIMAROPA Region.

Of the number, the NDRRMC said some 7,738 families or 33,645 persons had to be brought to and served inside 56 different evacuation centers.

Estimated damage to agriculture in Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and BARMM has reached more than P8.7 million, while reported damage to infrastructure remains at P700,000, apart from reported damage to houses placed at around P2.5 million.

The NDRRMC said the southwest monsoon has brought moderate to heavy rains over different provinces in the country since July 11, enhanced by Typhoons Butchoy and Carina.

So far, the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has provided more than P29 million worth of assistance to displaced and severely affected families.

Work, classes suspended

Malacañang suspended work in government offices and classes in all levels in Metro Manila on Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina.

Memorandum Circular 57, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels in the National Capital Region at 2 p.m.

“However, those agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services,” the memo read.

The suspension of work of private companies and offices was left to the discretion of their respective heads, it said.

At the Senate, administrative employees were sent home at 2:30 p.m. yesterday as Senate President Francis Escudero adjourned the Senate session early.

“Upon instruction of the Senate President, Senate secretariat officers and employees who are not assigned specific tasks for the conduct of the plenary session today are allowed to go home at 2:30 p.m.,” Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said in a one-page memorandum.

Enhanced monsoon

Typhoon Carina continues to enhance the southwest monsoon that is bringing moderate to intense rainfall over parts of the country today.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2 over Batanes yesterday afternoon. Carina will also enhance the monsoon and bring rainfall over various localities in the western portion of Luzon until Thursday.

State weather forecasters said 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall are forecast over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portion of Mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Sur.

Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain are expected over Ilocos Norte, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Apayao, the eastern portion of Isabela and the rest of Cagayan.

Carina was monitored 325 km east of Basco, Batanes as of 3 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

Carina is forecast to move generally northwestward and exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning after making landfall in Taiwan.

It is forecast to reach peak intensity before making landfall, with rapid intensification likely. Rains with gusty winds are expected over Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte due to Carina.

Monsoon rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro and the rest of Ilocos Region.

The southwest monsoon will also bring occasional rains over Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Laguna, Aklan, Antique, Northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo islands and the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.

Scattered rains are forecast over Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, Northern Samar, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the rest of Bicol Region, MIMAROPA and Western Visayas due to the monsoon.

The rest of the country may see isolated rains.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding or landslides due to scattered to widespread rains.

Displaced

In Cagayan, 18 families were evacuated from four barangays in Gonzaga town and one in Peñablanca, due to floods brought by Typhoon Carina.

They were brought to evacuation centers while those in Camansi, Peñablanca town temporarily sheltered with relatives.

Local officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided relief assistance to the affected residents while the Philippine Coast Guard deployed rescue personnel to assist affected residents.

Authorities also reported that several roads and bridges in Gonzaga, Allacapan and Sto. Niño towns were submerged and not passable to all kinds of vehicles.

The Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said different municipal DRRM offices are conducting rescue and monitoring operations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The Cagayan Tourism office has cautioned travelers and tourists to take extra care because Carina has been bringing heavy rains that can cause landslides, flash floods and strong winds.

It also recommended the suspension of tourism activities along the swelling Cagayan River and its tributaries, as it banned leisure activities like swimming, boating, kayaking, river trek and cruising and the operation of floating restaurants.

Red alert

The DSWD Disaster Response Command Center is on red alert status due to inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Carina.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao, relief goods have been prepositioned for easy dispatch to those who will be gravely affected by the typhoon.

“Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the DRCC and the DSWD Field Offices to be on the highest level of readiness as the monsoon intensifies due to Typhoon Carina,” she said. A red alert means that all human and material resources will be made available for duty and deployment.

Reports showed that the Disaster Response Operations Management Information Center has already provided an initial P190,124 worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected localities in Central Luzon, Bicol and Western Visayas.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said two road sections were closed due to landslide and soil collapse which resulted from heavy rains brought about by the monsoon and Carina.

In an advisory, the DPWH said a landslide occurred at Barangay Malagutay, Zamboanga City prompting authorities to close the road sections of Zamboanga city bypass road to all types of vehicles as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.

A soil collapse occurred in Barangay Inasagan, Zamboanga del Sur, prompting authorities to also close the junction to all vehicles in Aurora-Ozamis city road as of 6 am.

The DPWH said the agency’s district engineering offices’ quick response teams in Zamboanga city and Zamboanga del Sur, respectively, are undertaking clearing operations as of press time.

Water levels rise

Rains enhanced by Typhoon Carina have slightly raised water elevations of Angat, Ipo and Bustos dams, with the latter spilling excess water.

Records from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Office showed water elevation of Angat Dam as of 8 a.m. yesterday was at 177.48 meters, Ipo Dam at 100.93 meters and Bustos Dam at 17.41 meters.

Bustos Dam reached its spilling level of 17.35 meter and has released excess water through its sluice gates, said Josephine Salazar, National Irrigation Administration regional director of Central Luzon.

As these developed, the 177.48-meter water elevation of Angat Dam slightly rose by 0.53 meter, compared to the previous level of 176.95 meters. This is still 2.52 meters below its minimum operating level of 180 meters and 34.52 meters below its normal high-water level of 212 meter.

Meanwhile, the 100.93-meter water level of Ipo Dam yesterday was 1.08 meters higher compared to its previous day’s elevation of 99.85-meters or 0.07 meter below its spilling level.

Also in Bulacan, several churches and chapels in the town of Hagonoy were inundated yesterday by floodwaters caused by Manila Bay’s high tide and heavy rains from Typhoon Carina.

Based on the report of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos-Sandigan, among the churches inundated were the National Shrine of the Santa Ana Parish, Santa Elena Parish and Nuestea Señora del Santisimo Rosario. Several chapels and residential houses were also submerged by floodwater in low-lying areas of Hagonoy. — Jun Elias, Artemio Dumlao, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Rudy Santos, Helen Flores, Shiela Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan, Romina Cabrera, Cecille Suerte Felipe