City of San Fernando, Pampanga – Some 18,874 families or 73,945 individuals in several areas of Central Luzon were affected by floods caused by heavy to intense rains brought about by Typhoon “Ulysses” from Wednesday to Thursday afternoon.
Based on the latest report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Field Office 3, the affected residents came from the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, and Aurora.
In Bulacan, some 17,070 families or 68,242 persons were affected by the floods that submerged low-lying areas in the province. Some 113 displaced families or 359 individuals are in various evacuation centers.
In Aurora, there are some 1,235 families or 3,881 persons affected as continuous moderate to heavy rains inundated low-lying towns. A total of 1,067 families or 3,389 residents stayed in various evacuation centers in the province.
In Bataan, some 378 families or 1,233 persons were displaced as floods hit the coastal towns.
Meanwhile, a total of 180 families or 543 residents were transferred to various evacuation centers in Pampanga.
In Zambales, 11 families or 46 individuals were likewise displaced by the typhoon.
The DSWD-3 has stockpiled some PHP1.11 million worth of family food packs in its regional and satellite warehouses in the region for distribution to the affected families.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando reported Thursday that 14,517 people were evacuated in the province due to Typhoon Ulysses.
In a television interview, Fernando said many of the provinces’ cities and municipalities were flooded after the onslaught of Ulysses.
Aside from the rainfall brought by the typhoon, he said the spilling of the Angat, Bustos, and Ipo dams contributed to the flooding in the municipalities of San Miguel, San Rafael, and San Ildefonso.
Fernando said the towns of Sta. Maria, Bocaue, and Marilao, as well as Meycauayan City and other low-lying areas in the province were also inundated.
The provincial government initiated the rescue operations, he said, mentioning that in Barangay Lawa, Meycauayan City, a woman asked for help after she and her newborn child were trapped in their flooded house.
Fernando added that the flood along McArthur Highway in front of SM Marilao was chest deep.
Early Thursday, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan said only SM Marilao, among all SM malls affected by Ulysses, was closed on Thursday due to floods in the vicinity.
On the other hand, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) reported that as of noon Thursday, 607,774 customers in Bulacan were out of electricity.
The province was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 on Wednesday.
As of 2 p.m., the weather bureau downgraded the southwestern parts of Bulacan, including Baliuag, Bustos, San Jose del Monte City, Santa Maria, Marilao, Pandi, Meycauayan City, Bocaue, Balagtas, Plaridel, Obando, Bulacan, Guiguinto, Malolos City, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong, and Hagonoy to TCWS No.2, while the rest were placed under TCWS No.1.
Fernando said no casualties have so far been reported in the province.
At least 1,411 families or 5,462 persons in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte are currently staying in evacuation centers and with relatives due to howling winds and heavy rains that triggered landslides, floods, uprooted trees, toppled electric posts, and damaged roads and houses in this part of northern Luzon.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lilian Rin confirmed this on Thursday as she reported the provincial government has initially prepositioned relief goods in Pagudpud town.
Due to incessant rains and strong winds spawned by Typhoon Ulysses in the northernmost part of the province, Rin said two houses were partially damaged in Barangay Balaoi due to landslide and one in Barangay Agassi due to a fallen tree.
“Since yesterday, we have delivered at least 400 family packs in Pagudpud as a counterpart from the provincial government,” Rin said.
Linemen from the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative are now in Pagudpud town to restore a distribution line that was toppled due to a fallen acacia tree and landslide.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Agriculture Office led by provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay said they are currently assessing agriculture damage as many rice fields in Pagudpud were submerged in floodwater.
Travelers going north are also advised to postpone their trip or to take the alternate route going to Cagayan as the Manila North Road Kilometer 579+130 in Barangay Pancian, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is closed since Wednesday due to continuous soil erosion.