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OCHA Flash Update No.1: Southwest Monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring

Countries
Philippines
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Message on behalf of Mr. David Carden, Head, OCHA Philippines

In its “red rainfall warning” issued on 19 August at 3:15 a.m., the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported heavy to torrential rains affecting Metro Manila and the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Northern Quezon on the Luzon island. It is most likely to continue for the next three hours. The authorities advised the public to take precautionary measures as severe flooding is expected in these areas.

The “Red warning” signals more than 30 millimetres of rain observed in an hour which is expected to continue for the next next two hours, and calls for evacuation. This is the highest level of warning in this tri-color warning system.

The low pressure area northeast of Batanes province in the northern tip of the country intensified into a tropical storm over the weekend and was named “Maring” (international code name Trami). While this storm is at 550 kilometres east of Batanes and moving slowly away from the Philippines in the north northeast direction at 7 kilometres per hour as of 5 a.m. today, it will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon affecting the whole country. The monsoon will bring rains in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and the provinces of Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Bicol Region, and may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Tropical Storm Maring may remain inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility until 22 August.

More than 200 people in Marikina City in Metro Manila were evacuated from their homes on 18 August, according to media reports.

Classes have been suspended in Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Metro Manila on 19 August. All Government Offices in Metro Manila except those involved in disaster risk reduction and management are closed.

The next Flash Update will be issued as soon as more information is available.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.