One dead, one missing, thousands displaced due to monsoon rains in Central Luzon

Central Luzon (Wikipedia)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least one person was confirmed dead and another one missing due to continuous monsoon rains that battered Central Luzon in the past days.

Based on the latest data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), the fatality was identified as Romeo Sunung, 13 of Sitio Dapla, Barangay Salaza, Palauig Zambales who drowned Friday at the Salaza River.

Missing is Arnel Encarnacion, 57, a resident of Barangay Mambog, Botolan, also in Zambales. He was reported missing since Friday.

Josefina Timoteo, chairperson of the RDRRMC and regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 3, also said that a total of 4,804 families or 22,731 persons in 59 barangays in provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales were displaced.

Timoteo said that of the total affected families, 571 families or 2,492 individuals were in the various evacuation centers in the region while 561 families or 2,057 persons were being served outside the evacuation centers.

She also said that strong monsoon rains caused flooding in some areas in the region.

In Pampanga, a total of 40 barangays in the towns of Macabebe, Guagua, Bacolor, Mexico, Sta. Ana, Minalin, San Simon and in the City of San Fernando were hit by floods up to 4 feet high.

In Bataan, 14 barangays in the towns of Dinalupihan and Hermosa were submerged to floodwater up to five feet high.

Twenty-two barangays in the towns of Cuyapo, Jaen, Licab, Quezon and Zaragosa, all in Nueva Ecija were also affected by flooding up to 4 feet.

Five barangays in San Miguel, Bulacan were also inundated by floodwaters up to six feet.

But the floods subsided in those areas at around 6 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, 14 barangays in the towns of Paniqui, La Paz, Camiling and Tarlac City were hit by floodwaters up to 3 feet