Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Southwest monsoon inundates hundreds of areas in Luzon, displaces thousands

Dubbed as havoc almost comparable to Tropical Storm (TS) Ondoy, southwest monsoon enhanced by TS Haikui brought torrential rains, landslide, and inundation to most parts of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and some parts of Benguet province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).


As of 7:00 am today, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the number of affected families totaled to 267,850 or 1,230,813 individuals from 1,261 baranggays. At 11:00 pm yesterday, a total of 11 persons were reported dead while 4 were injured due to a landslide incident in Lower Bayanihan, Brgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City. Two (2) victims were noted in Region III.

Flooded areas totaled to 90 including 17 in the National Capital Region (NCR), 3 in Region I, 49 in Region III, and 21 in Region IV-A. One hundred twenty six (126) roads remain impassable in Regions I, III, IV-A, VI, CAR, and NCR.
The massive inundation damaged at least 535 houses. The totally destroyed were 466 while those partially damaged numbered to 64 all in Regions III, IV-B and VI. State of calamity were declared in the provinces of Laguna, Bataan, Pampanga, and Zambales.

Initial reports from the government’s Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) showed that the volume of rainfall surpassed that of TS Ondoy in 2009. Based on their initial data recorded in Quezon City, there was 472 millimeters of accumulated 22-hour rainfall from 4:45 pm of August 6 to 3:00 pm of August 7. However, Ondoy managed to pack more blow because most of its rainfall came at a much shorter span of 6 hours, the report said.

Thousands in evacuation centers
NDRRMC reported that 248 evacuation centers housed 24,357 families or 107,900 persons to date. The cities of Marikina, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, and Quezon registered the most numbers of evacuees respectively. Since the rains began 2 days ago, the number of evacuated persons peeked at 134,311 in 366 evacuation centers. However, some families have returned to their homes despite the risks as soon as the rainfall eased a little.
Hundreds more were not able vacate to vacate their homes on time because the waters rose in a span of a few minutes, radio reports said.

Appeal for help
The affected population, mostly from vulnerable segments of society, is in dire need of relief. Canned food, sleeping mats and blankets, clothes, and water are of immediate necessity. Medicines for common illnesses are also needed. Kind-hearted souls with time to spare, especially medical and allied health students and practitioners, are also needed for medical and relief delivery missions.

Donations may be coursed through Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) and Council for Health and Development (CHD):

Drop-off point
35 Examiner Street, West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (+632) 929-8109

Peso Account
SAMAHANG OPERASYONG SAGIP, Inc.
Metrobank: Savings Account # 636-3-63608747-6
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Examiner-Quezon Avenue Branch
Quezon City, Philippines