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AFTER Agusan del Sur, heavy rains induced by Tropical Depression Vicky now threaten flood-prone areas in Cagayan, a province still reeling from the impact of Typhoon Ulises last month.
TD Vicky, the twenty-fourth severe weather disturbance to hit the Philippines, has already caused severe flooding in the low-lying towns of Agusan del Sur, with some houses being submerged in floodwaters up to their roofs.
More than 100 million pesos in government projects were damaged in the Caraga region in the wake of “Vicky,” which has reportedly killed nine people so far.
While the reported number of victims has already reached the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, spokesman Mark Timbal said the deaths are still being verified.
According to the latest NDRRMC report, at least P105,400,000 in infrastructure was damaged due to flooding and landslides triggered by Vicky’s heavy rains.
At least 83 houses were also damaged in Cebu.
The tropical depression brought heavy rains over the weekend in Regions 8 and 9 and Caraga, causing floods and landslides in Bislig, Surigao del Sur and in the municipalities of Prosperidad, San Francisco and Rosario.
Floods were also reported in Bais City, Amian and Tanjay City in Negros Oriental, although the waters receded on Saturday afternoon.
A bridge and six stretches of roads in Regions 8 and 9 and Caraga were also closed to motorists due to flooding and soil erosion.
Power outages were reported in some areas of the city of Mati and in the municipalities of Manay and Baganga in Davao Oriental; and in Maco and Laak in the Compostela Valley. The NDRRMC said that Vicky affected an initial number of 1,590 families or 6,702 people in 57 barangays in Region 9 and Caraga.
Still feel
TD Vicky is exiting the Philippines Area of Responsibility, but the combined effect of the tail of a frontal system and an area of low pressure will continue to bring heavy rains, sometimes intense, over the mainland valley of Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Province of the mountain, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol region, the northern part of Palawan, including the Calamian and Kalayaan islands.
In its Severe Weather Bulletin at 11 am Sunday, Pagasa said moderate to heavy rains will continue through Monday in the Babuyan Islands, the mainland Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, the mountainous province, Ifugao and the part northern Quezon. Light to moderate with sometimes heavy rains over Batanes, Kalayaan Islands and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
“Flood [including flash floods] and rain-induced landslides can occur during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas identified as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards and in locations that received significant preceding rains in recent days or weeks, ”he says.
Magat Dam
At 1 p.m. Saturday, the National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-Mariis) announced Dam Discharge Warning No. 3.
The NIA-Mariis Dam and Reservoir Division-Flood Forecast and Warning System for Dam Operations (FFWSDO) began discharging excess water from the dam on Saturday. Six spillways were opened in anticipation of the huge volume of rain according to Pagasa’s rain forecast.
The NIA-Mariis administration warned residents to ensure the safety of life and property of people residing near the Magat River.
Pagasa continued to place the Magat sub-basin under flood alert status on Sunday due to the basin’s average 38mm observed rainfall.
In its 9 am Flood Bulletin, Pagasa warned that in the next 24 hours the expected rainfall will affect the Magat Sub-basin. Four spillways remain open until 9 a.m. Sunday, affecting various locations along the Magat River in Isabela province. They are Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Nagauilian and Gamu.
Apart from the Cagayan river basin, the Pampanga and Bicol regions basins are currently under flood alert status.
The heavy rains induced by the recent typhoons Rolly and Ulysses generated landslides and severe flooding in many areas, as the volume of rain discharged in recent weeks exceeded the water absorption capacity of the basin, causing the rivers to and river tributaries will overflow and flood many rest areas in Luzon.
The Philippines, an archipelago made up of more than 7,500 islands and islets and with an estimated population of more than 100 million, was identified as one of the nations most vulnerable to climate change in the world.
