Four dead after tropical depression Maring brings floods to Luzon

Maring
Residents take shelter on the roof of their home. Picture by the Straits Times, via Twitter

At least four people have died and 13 are missing after tropical depression Maring brought flooding and chaos across Luzon.

Most of the dead and missing were poor people living in identified “danger zones” despite government warnings.

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Among them were two teenage brothers who perished in landslide in Taytay, Rizal, just east of Manila.

Civil defence officer Ronnie Mateo said: “Our local authorities had continuously warned them that their place was really prone to landslides but they insisted on staying.”

The brothers have been identified as Jude Pundal, aged 17, and Justin Pundal, 14.

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Maring
This vivid picture of floodwater was shared with the Manila Bulletin by Zena Deza

Another victim of the floods was a 12-year-old girl who drowned in a rain-swollen river in a Manila suburb. She has not yet been publicly identified.

In Quezon province, a two-month-old girl was killed and seven others injured when a concrete wall around a hospital collapsed on three houses in Lucena city.

Meanwhile, financial markets, government offices and schools have all been closed and dozens of flights cancelled or diverted.

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Marin
Despite the rising waters, life for many continued as norma. Picture by Marcela Hall-Gahol

The arrival of Maring

Maring hit the eastern town of Mauban in the small hours of this morning before moving northwest across Luzon and passing just beside Manila. The depression is now due to leave the Luzon landmass moving northwest.

In Calamba City south of Manila a flash flood washed away a riverside shanty, leaving six people including a two-year-old child missing.

Noriel Habana, head of the city’s disaster management office, said: “They were informal settlers, living beside a river. There was a flash flood and it washed out their two storey-house.

“In previous floodings, we had pre-emptive evacuation. It just so happened it was a flash flood and they had no time to react.”

Maring
A rescue boat helps commuters get to work. Picture by the Philippine Star, via Twitter

Forecaster Renito Paciente said Maring, with recorded gusts of more than 60mph, was moving at just 10mph per hour, which had worsened the flooding.

“Because it moves slowly, it can bring more rain over an area,” he told AFP.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Lannie – known as Talim internationally – will continue to move towards the Batanes-Taiwan area within 24 hours.

PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said Lannie/Talim would have no direct effect on the country.

Both Maring and Lannie/Talim are expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility between tomorrow night and early Thursday morning.

As we reported yesterday, Lannie/Talim is closing in on China, where it is due to make landfall tomorrow evening.