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15 dead as tropical cyclones and monsoon batter Philippines
The death toll from Tropical Cyclones Maymay and Luis and the southwest monsoon reached 15, with 13 injured and nine missing, the Philippine National Police said.
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The death toll from the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Maymay and Luis and the southwest monsoon has risen to 15, the Philippine National Police said Monday. Another 13 people were injured and nine are missing. The PNP stressed that official confirmation of fatalities will come from the Office of Civil Defense, and its own count reflects only ground-level data.
Deaths were caused by drowning, electrocution, rockfall or landslide, and fallen trees. Two were in Region 1, seven in Region 4A, and six in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Police and other agencies rescued 50 people across four regions.
The OCD's latest situational report listed 13 deaths, still subject to validation, along with nine injured and one missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported eight fatalities in Benguet, Rizal, and Batangas, and one person missing.
About 223,000 families, or 752,000 people, were affected in nine regions. A total of 412 evacuation centers housed roughly 10,000 families, or 34,400 people. The disasters damaged 300 houses, 276 partially and 24 destroyed. Infrastructure damage was estimated at P1.12 billion, agricultural losses at P3.53 million. Government agencies provided P33.94 million in assistance, the NDRRMC said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered all government agencies to accelerate infrastructure maintenance and relief distribution as the enhanced southwest monsoon persists. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president directed immediate assistance to flood-affected residents, especially those in remote communities and returning evacuees.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon inspected flood-prone urban centers including Las Piñas, Manila, and Quezon City. He reported observable improvements in water recession rates in areas such as Navotas, Valenzuela, Manila, and G. Araneta Avenue, which historically suffered deep, prolonged floodwaters. Dizon acknowledged that resolving the nation's flooding woes remains a long-term challenge. "There is no overnight solution. Decades of unaddressed issues in project execution mean this will take time, but we must be continuous and consistent," he said.
The DPWH is strengthening dredging operations, installing high-density polyethylene pipes, and ensuring round-the-clock operation of major pumping stations. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Don Artes said joint inspections uncovered structural obstructions hindering water flow. Major issues included broken concrete barriers along EDSA busways that trapped runoff, utility pipes laid inside drainage culverts, and illegal encroachments along riverbanks. "Garbage is also a huge factor in slowing down the flow of water, causing flash floods on our main roads," Artes said. Heavy debris, including discarded furniture and appliances, frequently clogs pumping station turbines.