8 reported dead amid floods due to Habagat, Luis, Maymay —NDRRMC

The number of individuals who have been reported dead due to the effects of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay has risen to eight as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The following areas recorded the fatalities, according to the NDRRMC:
• two in Rizal due to a rockslide
• two in Batangas due to drowning and electrocution.
• two in Benguet due to a landslide
• two in La Union due to a landslide, electrocution, and drowning

Meanwhile, one missing individual was reported in Batangas, and seven injured in Benguet due to a landslide and a vehicular accident.

Flooding

Flooding from the continuous heavy rain was reported in Regions I, III, MIMAROPA, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and CALABARZON.

In a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Dano Tingcunco on Sunday, the water level of the Marikina River reached the second alarm shortly before 11 a.m., prompting many residents living near the riverbanks to evacuate.

“Nakita ko kasi yung sa ilog nasa second alarm na siya, mataas na kasi yung ano baka, mahirap na kasi may mga bata eh kaya lumikas na kami. Kinakakaba ko kasi baka umano po, mas lalong tumaas pa po yung level maiwan kami sa loob ng bahay,” a resident said.

(I saw that the river had reached the second alarm, and the water was already high. It’s hard when you have children, so we decided to evacuate. I was worried that the water level might rise even higher and trap us inside our home.)

Over 400 individuals took shelter at the Concepcion Integrated School evacuation center.

According to Marikina 1st District Representative Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, the Tumana Pumping Station failed to operate, preventing floodwaters from being properly discharged toward the Pasig River.

He added that he immediately alerted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the project contractor to address the issue.

As of 4:00 p.m., the Marikina River water level stood at 17.5 meters—still under Second Alarm, which signals preemptive evacuation for communities along the riverbanks.

Landslides

The NDRRMC also recorded landslides in Regions I, CAR, and CALABARZON.

In Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras Weekend,” a section of Beckel Road in La Trinidad, Benguet, was completely washed out due to soil erosion caused by heavy downpours. No motorists were passing by when the incident occurred.

“Nalulungkot naman tayo pero at least wala namang nangyaring masama, dahil wala namang nasaktan,” La Trinidad Mayor Roderick Awingan said.

(We are saddened by this, but at least no one was hurt and no untoward incident happened.)

According to the DPWH, the concrete road was left overhanging because the road was undergoing renovation. Repairs on the P63-million project began on June 4, limiting traffic to one lane, but work was suspended on June 28 after issues were discovered.

“Nakita nila na alanganin, so we have to—huhukayin muna namin kung ano yung pinaka stal at saka yung talagang kayang kaya nya yung structure,” Benguet District Engineer Teofilo Ramirez Jr. said.

(They saw that the structure was unstable, so we have to excavate down to solid ground to ensure it can properly support the structure.)

According to an investigation by an independent third-party company, the project's foundation was structurally unsound.

As of the NDRRMC’s latest data, at least 124,000 families have been affected by the habagat weather across the country. Across active evacuation sites in the country, a total of 2,500 families have sought shelter.

Meanwhile, at least 170 houses have been damaged by the severe weather, 13 of which were completely destroyed. — BM, GMA News