Flooding has affected more than 84,000 residents in western Pangasinan, with rescue teams using motorboats in some areas as heavy rain caused rivers to overflow, disaster officials said.

Personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection used a motorboat during a rescue operation in parts of Barangays Poblacion and Ambabaay in Bani, where water levels rose after heavy rain.

Floodwaters also turned a road into what appeared to be a river in Sitio Matmot, Barangay Allabon in Agno. A road under construction in Barangay Sto. Rosario was temporarily impassable to small vehicles because of flooding. Motorists were advised to use the Sitio Anapao-Bangan-Oda Road as an alternative route.

Other towns in western Pangasinan, including Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao, Burgos, Infanta and Mabini, also reported flooding. A total of 84,711 people were affected in the area, while 326 were evacuated.

Pangasinan Assistant DRRM Officer Avenix Arenas said overflowing rivers contributed to the flooding.

“Nag-overflow kasi ‘yung Balincaguing River. Sa Alaminos naman, ay ‘yung Alaminos River. At sa Bani, dahil sa patuloy na pag-ulan, ‘yung Embarcadero River o ‘yung tinatawag nating Bani River,” Arenas said.

Meanwhile, floodwaters in Labrador and Bugallon, which were hit by flash floods the previous day, were already receding. The PDRRMO said the national road in Labrador was passable and it had received no new reports of flooded areas there.

Despite the improving conditions in some areas, the number of flooded barangays in Pangasinan increased to 51, as of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, while flooding was receding in another 68 barangays.

The PDRRMO said 761,515 people have been affected. Of these, 2,624 remained in various evacuation centers. Rescue operations continued in areas experiencing severe flooding.

Initial assessments placed damage to agriculture and fisheries at more than P262.5 million, while livestock losses reached more than P1.8 million and infrastructure damage stood at P175.5 million.

The Emergency Operations Center remained under Code Blue alert as authorities continued their response.

Arenas urged residents to remain prepared and follow instructions from authorities.

“Ipairal ang disiplina. Ang ating family preparedness ay dapat nakakasa lagi. Dapat maging alert, maging handa, maging preparado. Sumunod sa mga kinauukulan para sa kanilang kaligtasan at proteksyon,” Arenas said.