Update 19 July 2014 – More information has since been released about the flooding that struck parts of Mindanao and Western Visayas on 16 July 2014.
Two hours of torrential rainfall on Thursday 17 July 2014, in the highlands near Zamboanga City resulted in floods forcing 2,500 to evacuate their homes. The floods completely inundated the village of Barangay Sangali, destroying houses and other buildings. There have been no reports of any deaths, although emergency rescues were necessary. The local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council have provided supplies for the displaced, although it is not yet clear where the evacuated have been accommodated.
Original report 17 July 2014
Just as Typhoon Rammasun (local name Glenda) made landfall in the Philippines, torrential rain from the southwest monsoon caused flash floods in southern areas of the country, in particular Mindanao and Western Visayas.
Typhoon Rammasun / Glenda
Typhoon Glenda made landfall in 3 locations – Rapu-Rapu and Tobaco City in Albay and in Catanauan, Quezon – between 15 and 16 July 2014. Winds of up to 185 km/h caused widespread damage and forced 530,689 people to seek safety in 1,219 evacuation centres. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 15 roads, 4 bridges and 26,259 houses have been damaged. Thirteen provinces were hit with power cuts as a result of the storm. As many as 38 people have been killed in the typhoon, with 8 still missing.
I|n their latest statement, the NDRRMC say that the typhoon has weakened in the Philippines slightly as it moves further away from the country. The typhoon is forecast to be heading north west towards China, where authorities have already issued severe weather warnings.
Monsoon Floods
A statement by NDRRMC on Wednesday 16 July 2014 said that southwest monsoon rainfall had caused flash floods in Cotabato City, Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao and Malabang in Lanao del Sur. Flash floods were also reported in North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, and Paglat, Maguindanao
Flooding in Cotabo City was said to be knee deep. Flooding caused a bridge to collapse in Antique province, Western Visayas.
