Tropical storm “Helen” was about to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as of Wednesday evening, the latest in a string of weather disturbances that ravaged parts of the country and caused at least 20 fatalities in the past week.
In a weather bulletin issued at 5:00 PM Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the eye of storm Helen at 930 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.
The storm was moving northwestward at 40 km per hour with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.
Meanwhile, PAGASA noted that tropical depression “Gener” already exited the country early morning on Wednesday.
Still, the southwest monsoon or “Habagat” brought intense rainfall over Zambales and Bataan, and moderate to heavy rainfall over the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Pampanga, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.
However, the lingering effects of storms Gener and Helen will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing strong gale-force gusts over the Ilocos region, Isabela, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island region and Zamboanga Peninsula by Thursday.
Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Benguet and Pangasinan will experience moderate to heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
As this developed, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 20 people died and 14 are still missing due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Ferdie and Gener.
According to their latest situation report, fatalities include nine in Mimaropa, four each in Western Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, two in the Zamboanga Peninsula, and one in Central Visayas.
Additionally, the NDRRMC said 11 individuals were injured as a result of these weather events.
Thus far, the inclement weather affected 597,870 people, or 156,524 families, across Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, Bangsamoro, and Cordillera.
The hardest-hit region is Western Visayas with 256,593 people or 73,512 families affected.
Of these figures, 62,995 people (16,926 families) are staying in evacuation centers, while 34,265 people (8,592 families) moved elsewhere to seek temporary shelter.
The storms damaged 930 houses—789 partially and 141 totally—while infrastructure damage is estimated at P2,401,500.
Power outages and communication disruptions have also been reported in some areas.
Eight domestic flights and 39 sea trips remain suspended.
At seaports, 1,609 passengers, 58 rolling cargoes, 25 vessels, and seven motor bancas are stranded.
Classes and work have likewise been suspended in 592 and 82 areas, respectively, due to bad weather conditions.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Storm ‘Helen’ on its way out—PAGASA.”
