Inday Floods 35 Iloilo Barangays, Over 1,300 Evacuated

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Flooding triggered by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and the lingering effects of Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) inundated 35 barangays in Iloilo City, forcing more than 1,300 residents to flee their homes, according to the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (ICEOC). Based on Situational Report No. 7 released at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 12, the city remained under Blue Alert status as authorities continued disaster response operations despite the typhoon having already moved out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The report showed that 35 barangays were affected by flooding, although floodwaters had already subsided in five villages. Thirty barangays remained inundated as of 6 p.m. A total of 384 families, or 1,331 individuals, were evacuated from 15 barangays and brought to evacuation centers across the city. The ICEOC reported that no residents were stranded. Among the areas with the highest number of evacuees were Barangay Tagbac in Jaro, with 164 families, or 664 individuals; Barangay Mohon in Arevalo, with 51 families, or 180 individuals; Barangay Cubay in Jaro, with 26 families, or 103 individuals; and Barangay Sto. Domingo in Arevalo, with 30 families, or 84 individuals. Flooding was reported in all seven districts of the city, including City Proper, La Paz, Molo, Mandurriao, Jaro, and Arevalo. Several areas recorded deep floodwaters, including Sitio Punong in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Arevalo, where flooding reached as high as 72 inches in some areas. Elsewhere, flood depths ranged from a few inches to more than three feet. Strong winds accompanying the weather disturbance also caused six incidents of uprooted trees and two toppled telecommunications poles in Jaro, Molo, and Arevalo. All incidents had been cleared by responding agencies as of Sunday evening. An initial damage assessment by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) identified three partially damaged houses, affecting three families, or 15 individuals. One damaged house was recorded in Barangay Balantang and two in Barangay San Roque, both in Jaro District. The ICEOC said 2,000 food packs from the CSWDO and 1,799 food boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were on standby for distribution to affected families. Response operations remained in full swing, with personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Iloilo City Police Office, City Engineer’s Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, General Services Office, and other partner agencies deployed for rescue, clearing, and relief operations. Rainfall recorded across the city over the previous 12 hours ranged from 3 millimeters in Balabago to 16 millimeters in Tabucan, while wind speeds reached up to 32 kilometers per hour in Ungka. The city government said emergency responders continue to monitor weather conditions, flooding, evacuation centers, and critical infrastructure as intermittent rains persist over Iloilo City due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Inday.