Philippines was on alert yesterday as tropical storm Ampil intensified, leading to fears of heavy rainfall, extensive flooding and landslides, according to the country’s meteorological agency.
Several provinces including Zambales, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bataan were flooded yesterday as a result of heavy downpour on Thursday night, Efe news quoted the Philippine meteorological agency PAGASA as saying.
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) maintained a yellow alert in these areas as intense rains and flooding in lower areas are expected.
The areas had experienced flooding between Tuesday and Wednesday as a result of rains from another tropical storm.
In Manila, the authorities are monitoring the situation on the banks of Marikina river where the water has reached a height of 16m. The residents have been helped to evacuate voluntarily.
Ampil, which has intensified in the last few hours, will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, when the weather is expected to improve.
Yesterday morning, Ampil was around 995km from Batanes Island, the northernmost island of the Philippines and was moving in the northwest direction at a speed of 15kmph.
According to PAGASA, the storm has sustained winds of 85kmph with gusts of up to 105kmph.
Meanwhile, the department of social welfare and development (DSWD) said yesterday a total of 46,934 families or 190,295 individuals were affected by the storm-induced southwest monsoon that drenched parts of Luzon and the Visayas over the past week.
These families were from central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, western Visayas and the National Capital Region, the DSWD said. Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon make up Calabarzon while Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan make up Mimaropa.
The government-run welfare agency has released P5.08mn worth of assistance, provided 34 evacuation centres, deployed quick response teams and social workers for “psychosocial intervention” in the affected regions in co-ordination with local government units (LGUs).
“The agency is prepared and ready to augment the resources of the local government units. Food and non-food items have already been prepositioned. The department is also ready to deploy its social workers for psychosocial intervention once needed,” Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo said in a statement.
Tropical storm Son-Tinh dumped heavy rains that resulted in floods, prompting officials to suspend classes and work in government offices and cancel domestic flights.
In Metro Manila, parts of Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and in Rizal, classes in all levels in public and private schools were suspended.




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