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The Star
20 hours ago
- Climate
- The Star
‘Crising,' ‘habagat' spell woes for Luzon, Visayas
MANILA: Numerous areas mainly in Luzon and the Visayas were battered by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm 'Crising' on Friday (July 18), some already reeling from the effects of the southwest monsoon ('habagat') since Wednesday (July 16), leaving at least two persons dead and displacing thousands of families. Nonstop rains also forced the suspension of classes and government and business operations in cities and towns, and prompted some local governments to place their areas in a state of calamity. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Crising disrupted the operations of at least 37 ports nationwide, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, mostly in Eastern Visayas. At least three fishermen were reported missing, one each in Negros Occidental, Palawan and Southern Leyte, while landslides and overflowing rivers stranded vehicles in different routes in the provinces. In Camarines Sur, brothers Christian Benlayo, 36, and Freddy Mar, 33, were riding a motorcycle when a large acacia tree collapsed and fell upon them as they were traveling along the Gov. Fuentebella Highway in Barangay New Moriones of Ocampo town at noon on Friday. Both died on the spot, according to Police Maj. Bernardo Peñero, chief of Ocampo police. Halted classes, port incidents Crising was last spotted 195 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 80 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. In Cebu City, the economic center of the Visayas, most of the urban barangays were flooded since Wednesday, causing suspension of classes, work and business operations. The city's disaster risk reduction management office (DRRMO) recommended placing the locality under a state of calamity. In Bohol, the capital city of Tagbilaran and 35 of its 47 towns were flooded, leading to suspension of classes on Friday, the province's DRMMO reported. Classes were also suspended in many localities in the Luzon provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Quezon, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro. In Calbayog City, Samar, two cargo vessels—MV Vinh Quang, a Vietnamese-flagged bulk carrier, and MV Poseidon 52, a Philippine-flagged general cargo ship—collided at Manguinoo Port around 8am on Friday as the vessels were being whipped by strong winds. The PCG in Calbayog reported that the anchored MV Vinh Quang was struck by MV Poseidon 52 while it maneuvered to dock at the port. No injuries or oil spills were reported, and both vessels remained stable, the PCG said. In Catanduanes, a barge ran aground in Virac town. The Barge Premium Portland 2, operated by Navi Shipping Company, was anchored near the Virac Port when bad weather broke its anchor, causing the vessel to drift toward the shoreline in Barangay San Vicente at around 4am. PCG personnel deployed to the area reported 'no oil spill or pollution.' Evacuations In Negros Occidental, 6,818 residents who evacuated in 13 towns and cities as of Friday morning as heavy rains continued to flood low-lying areas. The number of evacuees were expected to increase with more still being rescued, said Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD). The PDMPD said a motorised banca, discovered adrift off the coast of Sagay City on Friday, has been identified to belong to a 30-year-old fisherman from the city who had been missing since early Thursday while a landslide in La Castellana town rendered the road leading to Canlaon City in Negros Oriental impassable. Search for food Despite the heavy downpour, some residents in Isabela pressed on with their daily routines in search of food. In Ilagan City's Baculod village, 35-year-old housekeeper Josephine Delleza said she ventured out to the Pinacanauan River amid the inclement weather to catch fish for her family. 'We only caught small ones, but it's enough for a meal,' she said in Filipino. Along the Cagayan River, fishermen Jonathan Suyu, 24, and Efren Manalo, 59, also tried their luck but came home nearly empty-handed. 'The river's water level keeps rising, making it difficult to fish,' Suyu shared. Officials at Magat Dam, located on the Magat River, which is a major tributary of the Cagayan River, deferred a scheduled water release due to minimal rainfall in its watershed areas in Isabela and Ifugao. To maintain order and safety during the storm, local governments in Isabela and Cagayan, including Tuguegarao City, implemented a liquor ban, prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in public. To maintain order and safety during the storm, local governments in Isabela and Cagayan, including Tuguegarao City, implemented a liquor ban, prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in public. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
a day ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Barge runs aground in Catanduanes amid rough seas
A barge with three crew members on board ran aground at the shoreline of Catanduanes due to rough seas, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Saturday. According a report by Christian Maño on Super Radyo dzBB, the PCG said the barge was anchored at sea when strong waves started pounding the vessel. Coast guard personnel have been deployed to the area to assess the barge's condition. Initial investigation showed that the incident did not cause an oil spill or environmental pollution. Onsite photos show that the cargo ship bore the name Premium Portland-2. In a Facebook post, the PCG said inclement weather on July 18 caused the barge's anchor line to break. The vessel then started to drift "uncontrollably." The effects of Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon or habagat have been causing heavy rains these past days. According to the 5 a.m. bulletin of weather service PAGASA, the southwest monsoon was expected to bring heavy rains over the Bicol Region, including Catanduanes. Sea travel was assessed as "risky for all types or tonnage of vessels." Seafarers were advised to stay at port, or seek safe harbor until waves and winds subside. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
DOH on Code White Alert due to Crising
The Department of Health said it issued a Code White Alert for the DOH Operations Center due to the possible effects of Tropical Storm Crising. The Code White Alert was issued on Friday night as part of the department's preparations for Crising. "Sa ilalim ng Code White Alert, inihahanda ng DOH OpCen ang mga gamot, medical equipment, at Health Emergency Response Teams para sa mga rehiyon na tinatayang maapektuhan ng bagyo," the DOH said. (Under a Code White Alert, the DOH is preparing the medicines, medical equipment, and Health Emergency Response Teams for regions that may be affected by the storm.) "Nakaantabay naman ang National Emergency Hotline 911 at local emergency hotlines para sa mga mangangailangan ng tulong," it added. (The National Emergency Hotline 911 and local emergency hotlines are ready to respond to those who need assistance.) Five areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on Saturday morning as Tropical Storm Crising brings rains on its way to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin. These five areas are Batanes; the northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Rizal, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Alcala) including Babuyan Islands; Ilocos Norte; the northern and central portions of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Kabugao, Flora, Santa Marcela); and the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan) Crising brought heavy rains and caused flooding and evacuations in many areas overnight. Two people were also reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). A total of 1,875 individuals were stranded in various ports from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The PCG also said 81 vessels, 37 motorbancas, and 591 rolling cargoes were stranded. Those taking shelter meanwhile, were 57 vessels and 106 motorbancas, it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
Crising causes flooding, evacuations, 2 reported missing
Philippine Coast Guard members assist 151 residents on Friday, July 18, 2025, as they evacuate following flooding due to Tropical Storm Crising in Ilog, Negros Occidental. PCG Tropical Storm Crising brought heavy rains and caused flooding and evacuations in many areas overnight. Two people were also reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Twenty-six areas were flooded in the country - two in Region 1, three in Mimaropa, two in Region 6, and nineteen in Region 7, according to NDRRMC's 6 a.m. report. Of these, flooding in two areas were reported receding. A total of 96,791 individuals or 37,598 families in 417 barangays were affected by Crising. The NDRRMC said 3,556 families or 11,689 individuals were staying in evacuation centers. Meanwhile, 1,781 families or 6,012 individuals stayed outside evacuation centers. Two people were reported missing in Region 6, to be validated by the NDRRMC. Meanwhile, as of Saturday morning, 26 roads and four bridges were not passable. A total of 1,875 individuals were stranded in various ports from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The PCG also said 81 vessels, 37 motorbancas, and 591 rolling cargoes were stranded. Those taking shelter meanwhile, were 57 vessels and 106 motorbancas, it added. A total of 4,595 families required assistance in Regions 1 and 6, the NDRRMC said. Total cost of assistance needed to assist the 4,595 families is P2,572,977.73. Meanwhile, 3,840 families were already assisted. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
PCG: 17 fishers rescued near Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said 17 fishermen were rescued near Bajo de Masinloc after their boat's propeller was damaged by a floating log. In a statement, PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the BRP Teresa Magbanua received a distress signal from the fishing vessel, FB Cassandra, on Thursday morning. Tarriela noted that the rescue operation was urgent as FB Cassandra was stranded within the expected drop zone for China's rocket launch test between July 15 and 17. The PCG vessel launched a towing operation despite rough seas with wave heights of up to six feet and winds moving up to 30 kph. On Friday morning, BRP Teresa Magbanua reached the vicinity waters near Mariveles, Bataan where the towing line was transferred to tugboat TB Lucida for the final leg of the journey. "During the operation, a medical team onboard BRP Teresa Magbanua conducted an initial health assessment of the crew, identifying one member with a hypertensive condition, who received immediate medical attention," Tarriela said. Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, is key maritime feature that China claims as its own in the West Philippine Sea. The shoal is a triangular coral reef formation that surrounds a lagoon and is famed for its rich marine resources. Last June, the Philippines accused China Coast Guard ships of carrying out aggressive maneuvers and targeting its fisheries vessels with water cannons while they were delivering supplies to Filipino fishermen to Scarborough Shoal. Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China refused to recognize the ruling. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
