: Southwest Monsoon Flooding Situation Report No. 1 (as of 19 August 2013)

This report is produced by OCHA Philippines in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by OCHA Philippines. It covers the period from 18-19 August 2013. The next report will be issued on or around 22 August. Highlights

 Heavy monsoon rains aggravated by Tropical Storm Trami (locally known as Maring) caused flooding and landslides in 11 provinces and Metro on the island.  The Government of the Philippines is focusing the response in the provinces of Laguna, Rizal and Cavite in the Calabarzon region, which are believed to be the hardest hit by flooding.  Nearly 2,200 people have sought refuge in 19 evacuation centres.

3 94,200 2,200 19 46 13th Reported dead Affected people People evacuated Evacuation centres Roads affected of the year

Source: NDRRMC Sitrep No.2 on Effects of Southwest Monsoon, 19 August 2013, 4 p.m.

Situation Overview

Heavy monsoon rain is affecting Metro Manila, Regions I and III, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Calabarzon region in northwest Luzon island. Flooding reported in the provinces of The low pressure area at the northeast of Batanes province in the northern tip of the Ilocos Norte, Ilocos country intensified into a tropical storm during 17 to 19 August 2013. The storm named Sur, Pampanga, Trami (locally known as Maring) maintained its strength and remained almost stationary Bulacan, Tarlac, at 580 kilometres east of Batanes on 19 August, moving east slowly at 7 kilometres per Bataan, Zambales, hour. Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, The storm aggravated the seasonal monsoon rains and caused flooding across northwest Luzon and landslides in the mountainous CAR. Several of these provinces and Metro Manila were recently hit by Typhoon Utor (locally known as Labuyo) that crossed northern Luzon a week ago. Moderate to heavy rains continue in Metro Manila and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, , Quezon and Occidental Mindoro. Two men and a boy have reportedly died, 11 injured and 4 missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). More than 94,200 people have been affected by the rains, of which nearly 2,200 people sought refuge in 19 evacuation centres. These numbers may rise as the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) quoted a government official reporting that there are 58 evacuation centres set up in Cavite, Laguna, Metro Manila and Region III. A total of 46 roads are not passable due to flooding. However, power, water and telecommunications are largely unaffected.

The provincial governments of Cavite and Laguna, and municipalities of Santa Maria Rainfall warning system and Narvacan in Ilocos Sur province have RED More than 30mm rain Serious flooding expected RESPONSE declared a state of calamity, according to Observed in 1 hour and expected to in low lying areas EVACUATION WARNING Continue in the next 2 hours media reports. ORANGE 15-30mm (intense) rain Flooding is threatening RESPONSE By mid-afternoon on 19 August, the Observed in 1 hour and expected to ALERT WARNING Continue in the next 2 hours Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and for possible evacuation

Astronomical Services Administration YELLOW 7.5-15mm (heavy) rain Flooding is possible RESPONSE (PAGASA) downgraded its rainfall warning Observed in 1 hour and expected to MONITOR WARNING Continue in the next 2 hours signal from “red”, raised on 18 August, to the weather conditions

“orange” then to “yellow”. A “yellow” signal Source: PAGASA means a 7.5-15 millimetres recorded rainfall

www.unocha.org The mission of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Philippines Southwest Monsoon Flooding Situation Report No. 1 | 2 in an hour, which is expected to continue for the next two hours. The advisory warned of flooding in low-lying areas and the public to closely monitor the weather conditions, cautioning that the waters may not subside quickly due to the continuous rains. Classes in a number of affected provinces have been suspended for 19 and 20 August. All government offices in Metro Manila were also closed on 19 August, except those involved in disaster risk reduction and management. PAGASA reported that the rainfall is not as heavy and intense compared with that of the Southwest Monsoon (locally known as Habagat) in 2012. Rainfall recorded in Sangley Point in Cavite on 18 August was 395 millimetres, which is 60 per cent of the average rainfall of 467.2 millimetres expected for August. Tropical Storm Trami is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 22 August. Public storm warning signals have not been raised in any part of the country. Humanitarian Response

The local authorities are leading the response while the national authorities are focusing their support in the provinces of Laguna, Rizal and Cavite in Calabarzon, which are believed to be the hardest hit by flooding. Key members of the NDRRMC met in Manila on 19 August in Manila and announced that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has pre-positioned Philippine peso 30 million (US$692,500) in standby funds, food and non-food items to augment local resources as needed. This includes 15,000 family food packs. The Philippine Red Cross assisted pre-emptive evacuations, and is supporting the rescue operation and providing hot meals and medical services through the Red Cross chapters in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. On Twitter, the Government endorsed the hashtag #walangpasok for all messages relating to this emergency. The Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and the Philippine Humanitarian Country Team continue to monitor the situation closely, and have made contact with the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in case assistance is needed.

For further information, please contact: David Carden, Head of Office, [email protected], Tel: +63 (0) 2 901 0265, Cell +63 (0) 917 513 9924 Agnes Palacio, National Disaster Response Advisor, [email protected], Tel: +63 (0) 2 845 4997, Cell +63 (0) 917 552 8413

For more information, please visit www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int http://philippines.humanitarianresponse.info/. To be added or deleted from this Sit Rep mailing list, please e-mail: [email protected]

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org