MGB: Landslides in Luzon areas possible amid LPA

Landslides, debris flows, and flash floods are possible in some areas in Luzon amid the heavy rains from a low pressure area (LPA) and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said on Thursday.

In its geohazard advisory, the MGB said 252 barangays in Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Apayao, Kalinga, and Ilocos Sur are susceptible to these hazards.

The bureau noted that other provinces affected by the LPA and Habagat, based on PAGASA’s advisories, are still advised to activate appropriate preparedness measures.

In Metro Manila, the MGB said the geohazards may also be experienced in 412 barangays in Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Caloocan, Novaliches, Navotas, and Malabon.

“The threshold values were lowered in Metro Manila due to the nature of flooding in highly urbanized areas, wherein the rains are not readily absorbed by the land,” the MGB said.

“This leads to increased surface runoff that overwhelms the drainage system and causes flooding in low-lying areas, as well as those proximal to waterways,” it added.

State weather bureau PAGASA said heavier rains are expected in different parts of Luzon up to Sunday due to the effects of the LPA and Habagat.

In its 11 a.m. weather advisory, PAGASA said that the LPA will bring downpour from 100 to 200 mm over Cagayan from Wednesday to Friday noon. 

Rainfall from 50 to 100 mm will also be experienced over Batanes, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, and Ilocos Norte during the same period.

Meanwhile, Habagat will cause rainfall from 100 to 200 mm over Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro from Wednesday to Friday noon.

Rainfall from 50 to 100 mm is also expected in Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas in the same period. —VAL, GMA Integrated News