Heavy rains induced by the prevailing southwest monsoon flooded low-lying areas in Luzon, including the National Capital Region (NCR), claiming three more fatalities in Caloocan and Cadiz cities.
This is as the weather bureau reported that rains due to the southwest monsoon may continue to drench Luzon in the next four days, threatening to cause more flooding and trigger life-threatening landslides.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said all three victims died due to drowning
This brings the death toll to 26 from the combined effect of Tropical Cyclone Luis, Maymay, and the southwest monsoon.
The number of affected population continues to grow, with reports from various local DRRMCs coming in.
So far, 1.47 million families or 5.15 million persons have been affected, NDRMMc said.
While some of those displaced by the flooding in the past few days have started to return home, the NDRRMC said a total of 6,338 families or 21,591 persons remain in 313 evacuation centers.
Flash floods that swept shanties and two to three meters of floodwater damaged 1,989 houses, with total damage to public and private infrastructure reaching P3.1 billion, and damage to crops pegged at P1.4 billion, the NDRRMC also said.
The government continues to assist affected families, with the cost of assistance as of Tuesday now reaching P760 million.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that monsoon rains will continue to affect Luzon until Friday or Saturday, possibly triggering widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides.
In its weather advisory issued at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Pagasa said 100 to 200 mm of rain is due to affect the following provinces: Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro in the next three days.
Light to moderate rain or 50 to 100 mm rain is set to affect Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique; Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, and Occidental Mindoro.