7 of 10 SINKING Sunda Plate & Caribbean Islands; Philippines: 10 killed, 234,487 people were affected by floods! Two barges hit homes Manila due waves! Costa Rica: 3 killed, 2 missing in floods!

Total number of population affected in 319 Barangays / 62 municipalities / 18 cities in the 21 provinces of Regions I, II, Ill, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII, X, CAR and NCR is: 49,118 families / 234,487 persons

Relief Web

Philippines SINKING:

A man collects plastic and other recyclable materials from debris in the waters of Manila Bay after tropical storm Saola hit the Philippine capital July 30, 2012

Storm surge hits Cebu coastal village

No Storm signal. Only high tide with some rains. Carael Dagupan City July 31 2012, 8:46am

/ Tens of thousands battled neck-deep floods in the Philippines Tuesday as Typhoon Gener (Saola) continued to bring heavy rains, with the death toll from the storm rising to 8, officials said. Heavy downpours battered parts of the country for the third day in a row, forcing the evacuation of more than 145,000 people, said civil defence chief Benito Ramos. "It will take about four or five days for the waters to recede, assuming the rains stop now. But if it continues to rain, then naturally, these floodwaters will get even higher," he told AFP. He warned that the bad weather would last for at least two more days as the floods rose in coastal areas just outside Manila. Saola has dumped heavy rains across large parts of the Philippines since Sunday, causing floods and knocking out power lines to more than two million households, officials said. /

/ As of press time, several villages in Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna remain submerged in floodwaters, prompting authorities to declare a state of calamity. Meanwhile, Ramos said several areas in Mabitac, Laguna and Calumpit to Hagonoy on Bulacan remain submerged in floodwaters. In Talisay, Cebu, hundreds of families living along the shoreline of Barangay Poblacion, Dumlog, Biasong, and Tangke were forced to flee as strong waves brought about by Gener destroyed houses on Monday afternoon. Ramos said due to continuous heavy rains that started during the weekend seven road, seven bridges, and dike were closed in Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Batanhas, Palawan, Aklan, Camiguin, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. In Laguna, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said Mabitac town, the worst flooded in the province, was placed under a state of calamity. /

/ The continuous rains brought by typhoon Gener (international name: Saola) since Sunday has left 10 dead, two missing, and five injured, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday night. As of Tuesday afternoon, Dagupan City in Pangasinan is still submerged in flood waters. In Metro Manila, Valenzuela City and Malabon City are still flooded, with Cardona and Angono in Rizal likewise submerged in water. A report aired on GMA 7 program “24 Oras” showed parts of Pangasinan caught in the middle of heavy rains and the rising of the tide./

/ At least 100 houses were damaged after being hit by two barges thrown by big waves at the port area in Manila on Sunday night. /

A boy rides on a makeshift raft while collecting plastic and other recyclable materials from debris in the waters of Manila bay.

7 of 10 S American Rolls & Caribbean Islands SINKING:

Costa Rica Crumbling:

/ Three people were killed, two missing and more than 2,000 were evacuated to shelters by rains over the weekend caused flooding and landslides in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the most affected area, said Monday relief agencies. /

Panama Crumbling:

/ A dead child, 5,000 and 1,500 people affected should be taken to shelters after overflowing rivers caused by heavy rains in recent days the western region of Panama, reported Monday the civil defense agency. /

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Costa Rica:

Three dead and 2,000 evacuated by rain in Costa Rica

Three people were killed, two missing and more than 2,000 were evacuated to shelters by rains over the weekend caused flooding and landslides in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the most affected area, said Monday relief agencies.

Rescuers on Monday found the body of a Nicaraguan banana worker, who was dragged by the current of a river, and the weekend killed one woman, aged 84, who spent eight hours buried by an embankment that fell on his house, according to a Red Cross report.

On Monday, rescuers found the body of one of the three missing, a young man of 21 who was dragged by the current of a river in Matina in Limón on the Caribbean, bringing to three the number of victims tested.

The rains that hit the country since Friday night, caused the overflowing of rivers in the provinces of Carthage (near San Jose) and Limón (Caribbean), the most affected.

Some communities were cut off by damaged bridges and landslides that clogged the roads, while houses were reported partially or totally destroyed and flooded crops. In Limon, several banana plantations remain flooded.

The Ministry of Health ordered the suspension of classes Monday at schools in the towns hardest hit by the storm, affecting the country after months of drought.

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) declared a yellow alert for several municipalities in Limon and Cartago.

The CNE kept the green alert for the Central Valley, where the capital, because the rainfall have been less intense.

http://noticiaaldia.com/2012/07/tres-muertos-y-mas-de-2-000-evacuad...

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Panama:

Rains in Panama leave a child died and thousands affected

A dead child, 5,000 and 1,500 people affected should be taken to shelters after overflowing rivers caused by heavy rains in recent days the western region of Panama, reported Monday the civil defense agency.

Major floods occurred in the province of Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean, where the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) declared a green alert for the weekend.

The child, aged nine, drowned "after being dragged by a head of water," according to the Sinaproc.

Several communities in the border area between Panama and Costa Rica were cut off by overflowing rivers Sixaola, Changuinola and Teribe, the report said.

The floods caused heavy losses among producers of bananas in border with Costa Rica, the suspension of water supply in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro capital, and in the province of Los Santos reported damage to homes fifty .

According Sinaproc, humanitarian aid has begun to reach affected areas.

http://www.ntn24.com/noticias/lluvias-en-panama-dejan-un-men-057997

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Philippines:

2 barges ram 100 houses in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines - At least 100 houses were damaged after being hit by two barges thrown by big waves at the port area in Manila on Sunday night.

Reports said that the owner of damaged houses, which were made of light materials, have been safely evacuated to a chapel in Tondo district.

The incident happened at around 9 p.m., as Metro Manila was being battered by strong winds from tropical storm "Gener."

There were no reported injuries from the incident.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryi...

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Thousands battle floods as death toll climbs

MANILA, Philippines - Tens of thousands battled neck-deep floods in the Philippines Tuesday as Typhoon Gener (Saola) continued to bring heavy rains, with the death toll from the storm rising to 8, officials said.

Heavy downpours battered parts of the country for the third day in a row, forcing the evacuation of more than 145,000 people, said civil defence chief Benito Ramos.

"It will take about four or five days for the waters to recede, assuming the rains stop now. But if it continues to rain, then naturally, these floodwaters will get even higher," he told AFP.

He warned that the bad weather would last for at least two more days as the floods rose in coastal areas just outside Manila.

Schools in some suburban Manila areas and in nearby provinces remained suspended Tuesday, but workers were forced to wade in floods as they struggled to report for work, officials said.

Three more people drowned, another was killed by a falling tree while a fifth was electrocuted while crossing a submerged bridge, adding to the three deaths reported on Monday, Ramos said.

Rescuers were also searching for four fishermen still missing after two days at sea, he added.

Typhoon Saola has slowed down as it moved away, prolonging its effects over the northern portions of the archipelago, said Ramos.

Saola has dumped heavy rains across large parts of the Philippines since Sunday, causing floods and knocking out power lines to more than two million households, officials said.

Power was restored a day later, but some roads and bridges had remained cut off.

Although Saola did not directly hit the Philippines, its massive rain band exacerbated the effects of a low pressure area in the vicinity.

Saola was heading slowly northward to Taiwan, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers an hour near its centre, state weather bureau said.

About 20 storms slam into the Philippines from the Pacific every year, causing heavy casualties and damage.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/31/12/thousands-battle-floods-...

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Typhoon Gener kills 10; leaves property damage of at least P2M

The continuous rains brought by typhoon Gener (international name: Saola) since Sunday has left 10 dead, two missing, and five injured, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday night.

In its 9 p.m. update, the NDRRMC said that the typhoon has affected 49,118 families or 234,487 persons.

A total of 1,172 houses have been damaged by the typhoon. Add to this, some 31,457 families or 156,681 individuals are taking shelter in evacuation centers.

Maritime activity in the country has been greatly affected by the typhoon. The typhoon has left 1,514 passengers stranded in seaports. A total of 16 maritime accidents have also been reported since Sunday.

Initial estimates on the destruction caused by Typhoon Gener was placed at P2.130 million, the council said. The government has provided P1.530 million worth of assistance to the different regions affected by the typhoon.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Dagupan City in Pangasinan is still submerged in flood waters. In Metro Manila, Valenzuela City and Malabon City are still flooded, with Cardona and Angono in Rizal likewise submerged in water.

A report aired on GMA 7 program “24 Oras” showed parts of Pangasinan caught in the middle of heavy rains and the rising of the tide.

The report said that residents will have to wait a little longer before returning to their homes as the areas are estimated to remain submerged for two more days.

In the nearby province of Cavite, the towns of Bacoor, Tanza and Ternate were placed in a state of calamity.

Metro Manila

Apart from the floodwaters, Metro Manila has also to contend with other typhoon aftereffects such as washed-up garbage and broken roads.

The same “24 Oras” report showed garbage-floes floating on Manila Bay.

However, nearby residents welcomed the garbage as a windfall. They intend to salvage what they can of the trash and sell what they gather to junk shops.

Also, newly paved roads, which should have withstood the effects of the rain, are now potholed ruins. This is especially true along Roxas Boulevard’s south bound section leading to the Baclaran area.

Electricity

Meanwhile, towns in Benguet province identified as Tuba, Tublay and Kibungan, and five barangays in Baguio City are still without electricity, the NDRRMC reported.

Apalit in Pampanga has also been suffering from a power outage since Monday.

Roads and bridges blocked

Since Sunday, a detour bridge in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan has been rendered impassable as a swollen Irawan River has washed over it.

A provincial road in Busuanga, Palwan is impassable after a landslide blocked it with 20 to 25 meters of earth.

The NDRRMC tallied eight incidents of landslides, including one in San Felipe, Zambales, where the roads have not been passable since a landslide occured in Brgy. Balincaguing.

There were also two landslide incidents recorded in Itogon, Benguet, one of which took the life of a person.

Weather forecast

According to the Tuesday 5 p.m. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecast, Gener is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday afternoon.

Until then, it will continue to bring rains to Luzon and the Visayas as it enhances the Southwest Monsoon. It will likewise bring moderate to strong winds in the country’s northwestern section.

The typhoon is still expected to bring heavy rains of 10 to 35 mm of rainfall per hour in the areas within its 700 km diameter, PAGASA said.

The weather bureau has alerted residents living in low lying and mountainous areas against possible flashfloods and landslide.

The provinces under a storm warning signal were likewise alerted to big waves or storm surges.

the Batanes Group of Islands, Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao are under Signal No. 3.

Signal No. 2 was raised in Cagayan, the Calayan Group of Islands and the Babuyan Group of Islands.

“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of Typhoon Gener and the Southwest Monsoon,” the weather bureau said. — DVM/ELR, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/267669/news/nation/typhoon-gen...

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‘Gener’ Leaves 8 Dead

MANILA, Philippines --- Typhoon “Gener” (international name: Saola) moved farther away from the country Tuesday but left at least eight people dead and displaced 1,752 families who had to be evacuated to higher grounds due to heavy rains and strong winds.

Despite moving away, Gener will continue to dump rains over extreme Northern Luzon, state weather forecasters said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Gladys Saludes said seven areas remain under public storm warning signals as of yesterday morning.

Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over the Batanes Group of Islands, while Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, remains under Signal No. 2.

Still under Signal No. 1 are Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao.

As of 5 p.m., Gener was located at 260 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Basco, Batanes.

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It is forecast to move north at 7 kph. She said the typhoon has slowed down due to a high pressure area (HPA) northeast of Gener.

Gener is expected to be at 360 km northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday afternoon and at 500 km north of Basco, Batanes by Thursday afternoon.

Saludes said Gener will leave the Philippine vicinity by Thursday.

She said the typhoon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas, especially the western section.

The estimated amount of rainfall is from heavy to torrential or 10 to 35 mm per hour within the 700-km diameter of the typhoon.

As of press time, several villages in Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna remain submerged in floodwaters, prompting authorities to declare a state of calamity.

Based on latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) bulletin, authorities also recorded a total of 46 incidents like flooding, landslides, and the like due to heavy rains brought by Gener.

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos identified the latest fatalities as Merly Datinguinoo, 45, of Tingloy, Batangas (drowning); Danieles Hipolito, from Bacoor, Cavite (electrocution); Reynante Lingasad, Jr., 10, from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (drowning); and Bernard Buzon, 35, from Tanay, Rizal; Lehan Hayo, 28, Mariveles, Bataan (drowning).

The NDRRMC initially reported three fatalities, identified as Ronald Necor, from Antique; Ernest Glores, 60, from Alaminos, Laguna; and Teodoro Flores, 40, from San Pablo, Laguna.

Three people were also reported injured. They are Edger Vecimo, chief cook of MV Shuttle RORO, and Ezekiel Calubaguib and Rona del Ramos, who figured in a motorcycle accident in Ifugao due to rockslides.

Eight people were rescued. Of the eight, three were fishermen who were rescued at the back of the Senate building in Pasay City, and five passengers of a motorized banca that capsized in Pagkilatan, Batangas.

Latest NDRRMC bulletin showed heavy rains spawned by Gener, which was exacerbated by a southwest monsoon and a shallow low pressure area, affected 8,298 families or 40,477 people in 94 barangays from 14 provinces in regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, and the NCR.

Of the affected population, 1,752 families or 8,016 people were temporarily evacuated from their homes.

At least 270 houses were likewise totally destroyed while 368 were partially damaged in the NCR and regions 4A, 6, 7, and 10.

Ramos said due to continuous heavy rains that started during the weekend seven road, seven bridges, and dike were closed in Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Batanhas, Palawan, Aklan, Camiguin, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

Kennon Road was also temporarily closed due to rockslides.

Authorities are also continuously monitoring the status of Angat, Ipo, La Mesa, Ambuklao, Binha, San Roque, Pantabagan, Bustos, Magat, and Caliraya dams where the water is nearing critical spilling level.

Meanwhile, Ramos said several areas in Mabitac, Laguna and Calumpit to Hagonoy on Bulacan remain submerged in floodwaters.

“Until now baha pa din especially in some municipalities of Bulacan. Lahat kasi ng tubig from Tarlac and Nueva Ecija pababa sa Pampanga river dadaan sa Arayat and Candaba then finally sa Calumpit and Hagonoy,” said Ramos.

In Laguna, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said Mabitac town, the worst flooded in the province, was placed under a state of calamity.

Another area, Sta. Maria in Laguna, may also be placed under a state of calamity due to the floods.

At least eight coastal areas in Cavite province were also reported placed under a state of calamity in the wake of Gener.

Govenor Jonvic Remulla placed under state of calamity Bacoor City, Kawit, Noveleta, Cavite City, Tanza, Rosario, Naic, and Ternate.

Bacoor City was the first to be placed under calamity state after floods affected 48 of 73 of its barangays (villages) and some 14,763 residents last Monday. Also flooded were some areas in Rosario and Imus City (third district), the capital. Strong winds destroyed some shanties of families near the Ternate and Naic shores.

In Pampanga, Governor Lilia Pineda bared that the Pampanga provincial government has readied some P100 million as calamity fund for residents affected by typhoons.

Pineda said the funds will be used to assist calamity victims and for the maintenance and repair of anti-flood systems in the province.

“The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), together with concerned departments, has been preparing for the rainy season for more than a year,” she said.

In Talisay, Cebu, hundreds of families living along the shoreline of Barangay Poblacion, Dumlog, Biasong, and Tangke were forced to flee as strong waves brought about by Gener destroyed houses on Monday afternoon.

At least 500 families were evacuated starting Monday morning as the waves started getting bigger and stronger, battering houses on its path. The Talisay City Social Welfare Office (CSWO), however, has not received any reports of casualties. (With reports from Anthony L. Giron, Mars W. Mosqueda Jr., Mark Anthony N. Manuel, Raymund F. Antonio, Freddie G. Lazaro, and Liezle Basa Iñigo)