By Marita Moaje
MANILA – More than 23,000 Quezon City residents have been evacuated across the city due to torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
In an interview during the Integrated State Media (ISM) special coverage over PTV on Tuesday, Bianca Perez of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) said 6,793 families, consisting of 23,014 individuals, are currently staying in 117 evacuation centers spread across 56 barangays in the city.
The city government reported that as of 7:46 a.m. on Tuesday, multiple barangays are still submerged in floodwaters, with some areas experiencing head- to waist-deep flooding.
“Sa ngayon po, mayroon kaming ongoing na mga rescue operations at retrieval operations na apat pong drowning incident. But we are still investigating this, kung nasagip na po yung mga taong ito (At the moment, we have ongoing rescue and retrieval operations for four drowning incidents. But we are still investigating if these people have been rescued),” Perez said.
“Pero sa ngayon po, wala pa po akong final count kung ilan yung injured or if there are any casualties. We are still currently investigating this kasi ito po yung mga cases na sa kasagsagan po ng ulan (But as of now, I don’t have a final count of how many are injured or if there are any casualties. We are still investigating this because these are cases that happened at the height of the rain).”
She said search, rescue, and retrieval operations were temporarily halted Monday evening due to heavy current that might put rescuers’ lives at risk.
In total, she said, 155 operations were recorded across the city, with only three pending and one ongoing as of 7 a.m.
More than 1,000 personnel of the local government, national agencies, and volunteer groups have been deployed citywide to assist.
Perez said the city government’s priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of evacuees.
“Ang priority po kasi talaga po namin ngayon is really to cater to our evacuated families. So ito yung ating focus po ngayon, yung to make sure that they are fed and they are sheltered (Our priority right now is to cater to our evacuated families. Our focus is to ensure they are safe, fed, and properly sheltered),” she said.
Flooding in several areas
Despite some improvements compared to the city’s experience with Super Typhoon Carina in 2024, several areas remain under deep floodwaters, Perez said.
Barangay Roxas, specifically Gumamela Street and Madre Silva, reported head-deep floods as of 7:46 a.m., while Barangay Sienna along NS Amoranto and Sto. Domingo Avenue is under chest-deep floodwaters.
Waist-deep flooding was reported in parts of Barangays Doña Imelda, Tatalon, Sto. Domingo, Mariana, Damayan, and Damayang Lagi, affecting major intersections and low-lying communities.
Meanwhile, knee- to ankle-deep floods continue to disrupt mobility in other areas, including Fairview, Payatas, Del Monte, and Katipunan.
QC residents have been urged to remain alert and contact Helpline 122 for rescue or emergency. (PNA)
