Stronger monsoon rains trigger floods, landslides in Zambales

ZAMBALES, Philippines – Heavy monsoon rains have triggered floods in this province, affecting more than 5,000 families as of Saturday, July 9.

Rivers have been rising in Zambales since Friday, July 8, due to the southwest monsoon which was enhanced by Typhoon Butchoy (Nepartak).

Butchoy already left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon, but the southwest monsoon continued to bring more rains on Saturday.

This has raised fears of another flooding similar to the effects of Typhoon Odette (Usagi) in 2013.

Some residents have already fled their homes. The evacuees included 31 families from San Felipe, 10 from San Narciso, 4 from San Antonio, 4 from Iba, and two from Botolan, according to Zambales Governor Amor Deloso.

Meanwhile, there were two landslides in Olongapo – one at the Skipper Beach in Barangay Barretto and another at the Olongapo public cemetery beside the national highway in Barangay Kalaklan.

Officials from Olongapo and the Department of Public Works and Highways worked together to recover 3 dead bodies as tombs were hit by the landslide at the cemetery.

Making roads passable

Deloso instructed the provincial engineering office to send dump trucks to flooded areas to augment barangay and municipal rescue operations after some roads were reported not passable to light vehicles.

On Friday, Zambales 2nd District Representative Cheryl Deloso-Montalla had said in a Facebook post that all national roads in Zambales are passable except the one in Alusiis, San Narciso, where only heavy vehicles can pass through due to flooding.

Montalla also said they are constantly monitoring the situation and have been in touch with national agencies.

– Rappler.com