Monsoon triggers landslides, bridge collapses in Iloilo

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Flooding, hanging bridge collapses, landslides, road erosion and creek overflows were reported across several Iloilo municipalities as the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat), intensified by Typhoon Inday (Bavi), continued to bring heavy rains over the province.

The southwest monsoon, locally known as the Habagat, carries warm, moisture-heavy winds across the western Philippines from around June to October, and its rains can intensify sharply when a nearby tropical cyclone pulls in additional moisture.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), in its 8 a.m. Situational Report No. 7 on Sunday, July 12, said weather-related incidents had been recorded in 18 barangays across at least seven local government units.

In all, 19 families, or 142 individuals, were affected, with 60 individuals staying in two evacuation centers and 82 others taking shelter outside evacuation facilities.

Six houses were damaged, two of them destroyed and four partially damaged.

Flooding was reported in Zarraga and Janiuay, while hanging bridges collapsed in Barangay Camando in Leon and Barangay Bagumbayan in Tigbauan.

Creek overflow was monitored in Barangay Dongsol in Pototan, while roadside erosion occurred in Barangays Tubang and Tulahong in Maasin.

Igbaras also reported a rain-induced landslide.

Authorities likewise responded to a rescue of trapped residents in Miagao, a sea mishap in Ajuy and houses damaged by strong winds in San Joaquin.

Banate was placed under Red Alert because of heavy rainfall.

The PDRRMO said rescue and evacuation operations were carried out in the affected communities.

As of the latest report, authorities recorded no casualties or agricultural damage.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Center remains under Blue Alert and continues to coordinate with city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices to monitor conditions and respond to weather-related emergencies.

Residents, particularly those in flood- and landslide-prone areas, were advised to stay alert, monitor official weather bulletins from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and local authorities, and comply with evacuation orders when necessary.

Meanwhile, separate reports later Sunday indicated that continuous heavy rains also triggered landslides in Barangays Nagba and Ago in Tubungan and Barangay Bulad in Leon, where soil and debris covered portions of roads.

Local authorities were assessing the affected areas and advised motorists to avoid the routes until they are declared safe.

As communities began recovery efforts, the municipalities of Leon and Pavia suspended classes on Monday, July 13.

Leon suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools to facilitate clearing operations, structural assessments of bridges and school buildings, and road repairs.

In Pavia, classes from preschool to senior high school in both public and private schools were also suspended to give flood-affected residents time to clean their homes and recover.