7 feared dead, thousands displaced as rains swamp Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Three people have been confirmed killed and four more were feared dead on Monday as a large part of Luzon, including Metro Manila, was hit by torrential rains since Sunday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the fatalities as:

• Franco Pedrito Cawayan, 30, who died due to a vehicular accident in Sitio Caliat, Barangay Lenneng in Cabugay town, Apayao;
• Celedenonio Gamban, 39, who drowned after a water collapsed in Barangay Tres Cruses in Tanza, Cavite; and
• Austin Guarimo Betasolo, 5, who was pinned bya collapsed concrete fence in Barangay Tatalo, Binangonan, Rizal.

Those feared dead were: Rosalino Calantay, 30; Monching Bakidan, 20; Joros Miyage, 7; and Marissa Manaois, 40.

The NDRRMC said that Calantay was reported missing after crossing the Damangil River in Tubo, Abra while Bakidan while missing after crossing the Chicko River in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

Miyage was swept by a flashflood that took place after a water dam collapsed in Barangay Tres Cruses while Manaois was trapped at the Sumaguing Cave in Sagad, Mt. Province.

The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 19,981 families or 94,226 persons have been affected by flooding in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region and Metro Manila.

Majority of the displaced families are residents of Rosario town in Cavite province, where 10,000 families or 50,000 persons were forced to evacuate their homes due to massive flooding.

There were reports that residents in several areas in Rosario town, which was recently hit by an oil spill, were forced to stay on their homes' rooftops due to high floodwaters.

The agency said that as of 10 a.m. on Monday, a total of 16 schools and three covered courts have been converted as evacuation centers in Calabarzon and Metro Manila.

It also said that at least 46 roads in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region and Metro Manila impassable due to floods.

The agency is also closely monitoring the status of dams in Luzon, particularly La Mesa, Angat, Ipo, Magat, Caliraya and Pantabangan.

It said all its units have been placed on red alert status.

Water at the La Mesa, Angat, Magat, Caliraya and Pantabangan dams were alreardy near critical levels while the water reserve at the Ipo dam was already in the critical level of 100.28 meters.

Malacañang was forced to suspend work in all government offices in Metro Manila due to the severe weather condition. As of this posting, the Palace has yet to issue if the work suspension would be extended to Tuesday.

Classes in all levels in Metro Manila and at least 12 provinces in Luzon were also suspended on Monday.

Several schools have already suspended classes for Tuesday. Class suspensions for Tuesday, August 20.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued a "yellow rainfall warning" for Metro Manila and 13 provinces in Luzon at 3:15 p.m.

It said Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Occidental Mindoro will continue to experience moderate to heavy rainfall until 6 p.m.