Four confirmed dead as storms, habagat wreak havoc across Luzon

AT least four people have lost their lives due to the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the prevailing Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed on Friday.

In its situation report issued as of 6:00 a.m., the OCD reported two fatalities in Benguet caused by a landslide, while two more deaths occurred in Rodriguez, Rizal, due to a rockslide. One additional person was injured in the Benguet landslide, and no individuals have been reported missing so far.

The severe weather disturbances have collectively impacted 132,956 people or 39,879 families across six regions: the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Of those affected, 6,215 individuals or 2,021 families remain sheltered in 61 evacuation centers. Fourteen houses have been recorded as damaged — 13 partially and one totally destroyed. The government has so far extended ₱3,595,057 worth of relief assistance to stricken communities.

Tropical Storm Maymay has weakened into a Low Pressure Area as of Friday, though it remains inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and continues to be monitored by state weather bureau PAGASA. Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin is currently outside the country’s jurisdiction but is being tracked. Despite Maymay’s downgrade, the Southwest Monsoon continues to bring widespread rainfall, with the agency warning that inclement weather is expected to persist until next week.

PAGASA warned residents to remain alert to possible flash floods and landslides, especially during periods of heavy downpours. Occasional rains will affect Metro Manila, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Antique. Batanes and the Babuyan Islands will see scattered rains and thunderstorms due to Dolphin’s trough, while the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers brought by the monsoon.