‘Habagat’ to continue to dampen Luzon

Manila: The weather bureau said the southwest monsoon or 'habagat' is 'gradually weakening" as Super Typhoon Yagi (formerly Severe Tropical Storm Enteng) moves away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility but would still bring rains across Luzon on Friday. "Heavy rains are still possible, particularly in Northern and Central Luzon," Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. PAGASA is expecting occasional rains in the provinces of Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan and scattered rains and thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Cordillera Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the rest of the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon due to the 'habagat.' Moderate to heavy rains in those areas could result in flash floods or landslides. Yagi's trough is forecast to bring scattered rains and thunderstorms in Batanes and Babuyan Islands, according to PAGASA. The rest of the country will experience localized thunderstorms. Strong winds and rough seas will c ontinue to prevail in the western section of Luzon, while the rest of Luzon will have moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas. Meanwhile, Estareja said the low-pressure area outside PAR would not affect the country's weather and is not expected to enter in the next two days. 'Enteng' deaths now 16; 2M affected In its situation report released Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the number of families affected by bad weather due to Enteng and the southwest monsoon has reached 538,602, equivalent to 2,061,726 persons, from 1,900 barangays in 10 regions. As of this posting, 9,089 families, or 36,330 individuals, were being sheltered in 424 evacuation centers while 2,928 families, or 11,349 persons, were being aided outside these evacuation centers. The reported death toll from the storm has climbed to 16 - eight in Calabarzon, three in Bicol, two each in Central Visaya s and Eastern Visayas, and one in Western Visayas. A total of 17 missing persons were reported - 15 in Bicol and two in Eastern Visayas. These reports are undergoing validation, the NDRRMC added. About 13 injured persons were also reported but only two have been confirmed. A total of 5,965 houses were reported damaged. Infrastructure damage was placed at PHP223.6 million in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, and Cordillera regions. Meanwhile, the government has extended PHP92.6 million worth of assistance to affected families in nine regions. Source: Philippines News Agency