‘Habagat’ leaves 16 dead in Central Luzon
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES, Philippines — At least five more people died, and four remained missing in separate incidents across Central Luzon amid days of relentless southwest monsoon or “habagat” rains that triggered floods, landslides and strong currents, bringing the region’s death toll to 16 in less than a week.
In Zambales, the body of pregnant Aeta woman Arryn Paanan Liwanag, 26, was recovered from Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino on Sunday, four days after a boat carrying 13 Aetas capsized. Her recovery brought the lake tragedy’s death toll to nine, with four survivors.
Two other passengers, children Chandnea Serrano Dela Cruz, 3, and Anqelito Serrano Liwanag, 8, were recovered on Saturday. The group had traveled to Barangay Buhawen for a vaccination program and a 4Ps meeting when their boat encountered strong winds and rough waters.
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READ: Heavy rainfall alert up in 23 Luzon areas due to habagat
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Two men also drowned in separate incidents in Zambales earlier in the week, while two workers died after being buried in a landslide at the Tipo High-Tech Park in Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday.
In Olongapo City, the body of a 3-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters was recovered at the Subic Bay Boardwalk on Sunday, a day after he went missing in Old Cabalan.
Evacuation
More than 16,000 residents in Zambales and Olongapo had evacuated their flooded homes as of Sunday.
In Pampanga, 25-year-old Reiner Novero died after falling into a flooded open drainage canal in Angeles City. His body was recovered about 2 kilometers downstream.
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A 70-year-old Aeta man also died in a landslide in Porac town on Friday.
Flooding affected 317 of Pampanga’s 505 barangays, with water reaching up to 2.74 meters (9 feet) in low-lying areas.
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In Tarlac City, four people remained missing after an SUV plunged into a river when the Agana Bridge collapsed on Saturday night. Nathaniel Dion, 20, was rescued, while authorities continued searching for the four others.
The Agana Bridge had served as an alternative route after the Aquino Bridge collapsed on Friday night amid heavy rains. —REPORTS FROM JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT, JUN MALIG, MADELLE CALAYAG, AND TONETTE T. OREJAS
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