Typhoon Inday, Habagat Leave 17 Dead, Over 500,000 Affected

MANILA, Philippines — Coupled with the enhanced habagat or southwest monsoon, Typhoon Inday has left at least 17 people dead, nine others missing and more than 500,000 people affected across the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday. Based on the agency’s latest report, 15 people died in separate landslides in Malapatan, Sarangani and Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, while two others drowned in Bukidnon. Nine persons were still missing, including six in Calanogas and three in Malapatan. Nationwide, the NDRRMC said Typhoon Inday and the southwest monsoon have affected more than 514,000 people. Of this figure, around 11,200 individuals were displaced and temporarily staying in 77 evacuation centers. In terms of infrastructure, heavy rains, flooding and landslides brought by the two weather systems damaged 153 houses, 12 of which were destroyed. National and local government agencies have so far provided more than P16.4 million worth of food and non-food assistance to affected families and communities. Among the hardest hit areas was BARMM, where police and Army officials dispatched more than 1,000 emergency responders to assist more than 60,000 villagers affected by flooding caused by days of heavy rains. Floodwaters also swept through towns in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur on Friday, forcing residents to move to higher ground. The Ministry of Social Services and Development-BARMM began delivering relief supplies to flood-hit residents in the areas, while BARMM Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua visited evacuation sites in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte to distribute relief goods and tents for displaced families. Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, director of the Police Regional Office-BAR, deployed 600 policemen to flooded areas in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Lanao del Sur to support local disaster response operations. Aside from BARMM, other affected areas included Central Luzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN. The severe weather also disrupted sea and air travel, leaving more than 1,000 passengers stranded in ports and airports nationwide. As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that at least 1,000 passengers were stranded in 61 ports nationwide. Southern Tagalog recorded the highest number of stranded passengers, with 276 in 22 ports, along with 30 rolling cargoes. Western Visayas had 265 stranded passengers and 181 rolling cargoes in three ports. In BARMM, 130 passengers and one vessel were stranded at Bongao Pier, while Palawan had 55 stranded passengers and three vessels in two ports. Central Visayas recorded 82 stranded passengers, 25 rolling cargoes, five vessels and 30 motor bancas in nine ports, while Bicol logged 92 stranded passengers, 11 rolling cargoes, two vessels and three motor bancas in 10 ports. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, meanwhile, announced the cancellation of five domestic flights yesterday due to the combined effects of Typhoon Inday and the eruption of Mount Kanlaon. These were Cebu Pacific flights 911 and 903 from Manila to Caticlan, AirAsia flight 227 from Manila to Caticlan, Cebgo flight 6039 from Clark to Busuanga and Cebgo flight 9695 from Iloilo to Camiguin. The agencies reminded operators of motor bancas and other small vessels, as well as passengers, to continue exercising caution. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Inday exited the Philippine area of responsibility at 8:20 a.m. yesterday and was located 590 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph. “It will continue moving generally northwestward towards the East China Sea and is expected to make landfall over the eastern coast of mainland China this morning,” PAGASA said. “Inday is forecast to remain a typhoon within the next 12 hours before weakening into a severe tropical storm after moving further inland over mainland China,” it added. PAGASA lifted all tropical cyclone wind signals except Signal No. 1 over Batanes. However, it warned that Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro may receive 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall, while flooding and landslides remain possible in low-lying and mountainous areas. — Bella Cariaso, Andrew Ronquillo, John Unson, Rudy Santos