Zambales Highway Sections Flooded, Stranding Light Vehicles; 261 Families Evacuated

Sections of the national highway in Castillejos, Zambales have become impassable to light vehicles on Monday afternoon due to flooding caused by persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat." The affected stretches are located in Barangays San Roque and San Nicolas, according to a road status update issued by the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) at 4 p.m. Authorities have advised motorists to exercise caution, especially when navigating areas where floodwaters are rising. The same road sections were declared impassable to light vehicles just a day prior due to the ongoing rains. Data from the PDRRMO indicates that a total of 261 families, comprising 899 individuals, have been evacuated across the province. Castillejos recorded the highest number of evacuees, with 145 families or 512 individuals relocated. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned of continuous heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon. The weather bureau forecasts rainfall amounts ranging from 50 to 100 millimeters in Zambales from Monday to Thursday noon.