Philippines — widespread flooding and landslides affecting 8 million

[DLJBSP]

A serious and growing disaster is unfolding in the Philippines, where successive tropical cyclones and prolonged monsoon rain have affected approximately 8 million people in 2.3 million families.
 
The official toll stands at 32 dead, 19 injured and three missing. At least 25,800 people remain in evacuation centers, while nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged, including 349 that were completely destroyed.
 
The Philippines has recently been affected by Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng. These weather systems strengthened the southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat, drawing additional moisture over the country and producing repeated periods of heavy rain.
 
Because the rain has continued through several weather systems, the ground across much of Luzon is already saturated. Rivers and drainage systems are under pressure, while waterlogged hillsides have become increasingly unstable.
 
Further rainfall can therefore quickly cause new flooding, rockslides or landslides, including in places that are not directly in the path of a tropical cyclone.
 
Benguet has recorded the greatest loss of life, with 15 people killed in landslides. Other deaths have been reported in Rizal, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Caloocan, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental.
 
The fatalities have been caused by drowning, landslides, rockslides, falling trees and electrocution. Three people remain missing in Quezon City, Manila and Batangas City.
 
On Saturday, August 29, a retaining wall collapsed at Tipo High-Tech Park inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, triggering a landslide at about 10:45 a.m.
 
Two men — one Filipino and one Chinese national — were killed, while two Filipino men were injured. One of the survivors has since been released from the hospital.
 
Authorities are investigating why the retaining wall collapsed. It is not yet clear whether the two deaths in Subic are included in the national toll of 32.
 
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau has identified 8,823 barangays, or local communities, as susceptible to flooding or rain-induced landslides through September 1.
 
The warning covers parts of northern and central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mindoro. Officials warned that nearby and downstream communities could also be affected, even if they are not included on the list.
 
The physical damage is already extensive. Infrastructure losses have reached approximately ₱6.11 billion, while agricultural damage is estimated at ₱2.32 billion. At least 117 local governments have declared states of calamity.
 
The agricultural losses will continue to affect families long after the floodwaters subside. At least 69,615 farmers and fishers have been affected, with approximately 60,896 metric tons of produce lost across 62,732 hectares of agricultural land.
 
Rice accounts for about ₱1.39 billion, or nearly 60 percent, of the recorded agricultural damage. Many of the damaged rice crops were still in their vegetative or reproductive stages. High-value crops suffered an additional ₱692.21 million in losses. Corn, livestock, fisheries, agricultural machinery and farm infrastructure have also been affected.
 
The figures are still being assessed and could rise as officials reach additional farms and fishing communities.
 
These losses could reduce food supplies in affected areas and place upward pressure on local prices, especially if continuing rain causes further damage or prevents farmers from planting and harvesting.
 
For farming and fishing families, the destruction represents more than the loss of food. Crops, livestock, equipment and fishing gear are often their principal sources of income. Replacing what has been lost can take months, leaving families without their usual earnings while they are also trying to repair their homes and recover from the disaster.
 
The full effect on the Philippines’ national food supply cannot yet be determined. However, localized shortages, reduced market supplies and serious losses of family income are increasingly likely in the worst-affected areas.
 
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has previously warned that repeated disasters in the Philippines can severely disrupt agricultural livelihoods and threaten food security. Back-to-back emergencies make it particularly difficult for farming and fishing families to recover because they must replace seeds, tools, livestock, boats or fishing equipment before they can begin earning an income again.
 
This remains an active and growing situation. A low-pressure area east of northern Luzon is expected to continue strengthening the monsoon, even if it does not make landfall.
 
More rain is forecast through September 1 in areas where the soil is already saturated, raising the risk of additional flooding and landslides. The number of people affected, the amount of agricultural damage and possibly the casualty toll may therefore continue to rise.
 
Please keep our brothers and sisters, and all those affected by this disaster, in your prayers.
 
Sources: Philippine News Agency, PAGASA, GMA News, Philstar.com, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Department of Agriculture and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
 
Note: This is an original news item composed from facts obtained from the sources listed above. Where future effects are discussed, they are identified as likely consequences rather than confirmed outcomes.

Edited 4 hours ago by DLJBSP