MANILA – Tropical storm Yagi, known locally as Enteng, caused severe flooding and a deadly landslide in the Philippines on Monday, resulting in the deaths of seven people as heavy rains battered the capital Manila and surrounding provinces.
In Antipolo, a hilly community east of Manila, a landslide claimed the lives of three individuals, including two schoolboys and a 27-year-old pregnant woman. The landslide struck two houses, according to Relly Bernardo, the city’s disaster management chief. “This is a landslide-prone area, and we have been encouraging them to leave for the longest time with offers of housing in other locations,” Bernardo told DWPM radio station.
In addition to the landslide victims, four others drowned in separate incidents in the same province of Rizal, where some homes were submerged by floodwaters.
The Philippines, which experiences an average of 20 tropical storms annually, often faces significant casualties from landslides triggered by heavy rains. The latest storm, Yagi, brought winds of up to 85 kph (53 mph) and gusts reaching 105 kph (65 mph) as it moved northwest over Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous island.
The storm caused widespread flooding, submerging streets and homes in parts of the country, which led to the suspension of government work and classes on Monday.
Gloria Nicolas, a resident of Rizal province, described the dire situation: “The water was gushing here and on the other side of our street, the water was rising close to the rooftop of houses. Some residents got trapped and had to escape by passing through the roofs of houses.”
Tropical storm Yagi’s impact underscores the Philippines’ vulnerability to severe weather events, with landslides and flooding continuing to pose significant risks to communities, particularly in disaster-prone areas.