Heavy rains, floods hit Luzon; barangays swallowed by swollen rivers

Entire barangays in Olangapo City were, on Monday, overrun by floodwaters created by the relentless rainfall over the weekend. One of the communities heavily hit by floodwaters was Barangay Santa Rita, the streets and alleys of which were turned into Venice-like water canals, according to a "24 Oras" report. Residents were caught off guard by the suddenness and volume of the flood. “Ngayon lang, nitong taon na 'to. Nagbaha [dati], pero 'di ganyan ka lalim,” said an elderly resident. Several Olongapo children were rescued using inflatable rings ferried by volunteers, while adults in life jackets attached to safety ropes pushed against the currents. Because of the flooding, Olongapo City has been placed under a state of calamity. Laguna, Bataan Meanwhile, six barangays in Santa Rosa, Laguna were also flooded, with areas in Barangay Aplaya having floodwaters around five feet high. “Kaya naman po hindi kami makaalis diyan, diyan lang ho kami kumukuha ng ikabubuhay namin, 'yang aming mga gulay,” said Aling Odette Libas in a separate "24 Oras" report. “May pressure siya eh, kasi ang lakas ng current... kung tutuusin, mga five to six knots [yung bilis ng tubig],” said Antonino Lu of the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Santa Rosa. Several Bataan barangays have been heavily flooded since Sunday night, and most of the region has been without electricity since Monday morning. Also, flooding limited motorists along the McArthur Highway to a single lane, with commuters forced to wade through waist-high water. In Barangay San Benito, Dinalupihan, a 75-year-old grandfather was tragically drowned in the floodwaters, which had reached the roofs of homes. Barangay Caingin seemingly became a part of a nearby swollen river, with livestock carried away and fields disappearing under the waters. Benguet, Ilocos Norte A portion of the mountainside along Kennon Road in Benguet collapsed due to the continued rainfall, closing the road and creating problems for motorists. Driving along other roads in the area also become problematic, as rain and fog reduced drastically visibility. Meanwhile, strong winds felled electricity poles, cutting-off electricity in some areas. Meanwhile, the sea wall in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte collapsed under the crashing waves. The wall sits beside the Pagudpud National High School, and students and teachers feared fort heir safety. In Pasaquin, Ilocos Norte, a road obscured by a landslide was quickly cleaned up, which allowed the GMA Kapuso Foundation to enter the area and supply rice residents. “Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa tulong,” said Mayor Marlon Sales of Pagudpud. In a milder, yet disruptive, case of flooding, Bulacan residents were forced to wade through knee-deep, murky waters as jeepney drivers would not risk their vehicles. Batanes, on the other hand, was hit hard by Typhoon Odette, leaving dozens of homes wrecked, trees felled, and electricity lines cut as poles yielded to the winds. Water services were also disrupted as the distribution system is run by electricity. To aid in the relief efforts, the Philippine Air Force sent a C-130 transport plan to fly in food. — Rie Takumi, GMA News