(Updated)
Search and rescue teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were deployed on the ground to conduct search and rescue operations as typhoon “Carina” and the southwest monsoon (habagat) caused heavy rains in many parts of the country on Tuesday, July 23.
The Philippine Army (PA) said army major units and line units were directed to coordinate with respective local disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) offices to harmonize SAR operations.
PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said an incident command system (ICS) shall be activated within each army units’ area of operations and responsibilities for easier coordination.
A total of 398 army troopers were fielded for SAR operations in flood-afflicted areas in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, and Batangas.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it alerted its Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon, Tactical Operations Group 1, 2, and 3 for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).
The PAF units have established close coordination with the local Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to monitor the situation and plan for response efforts, said PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo.
"The PAF, through its 505th Search and Rescue Group has a Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) team on standby, including dedicated helicopters for search and rescue and air ambulance, ready for deployment at a moment's notice to conduct HADR operations," Castillo said.
Further, the PAF also positioned six rapid response teams in key locations nationwide: Clark, Laoag, Palawan, Davao, Mactan, and Zamboanga. The members of the rapid response teams are all trained, experienced, and equipped for emergency response, Castillo noted.
"Other PAF air assets (both manned and unmanned) are likewise ready for Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) in coordination with Local Government Units to determine extent of damage and priority areas for response and relief," she said.
The Philippine Navy (PN), on the other hand, placed on standby its naval assets and personnel for deployment to areas that are expected to be severely affected by heavy rainfall, according to Commander John Percie Alcos, PN spokesperson.
Meanwhile, at least 294 passengers were stranded in various ports in Southern Tagalog and Bicol due to Carina, according to the PCG.
There were also six vessels, two motorboats, and 47 rolling cargoes that were stranded while one boat was taking shelter amid the bad weather as of its latest monitoring from 12 midnight to 4 a.m.
The PCG also conducted a pre-emptive evacuation of 326 residents in Sitio Pandan, Barangay Claudio Salgado, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro after the area was hit by flooding on Monday.
The rescued residents were brought to Pandan Evacuation Center for temporary shelter.
The Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon (CGDNEL) also activated all of its deployable response teams in preparation for possible emergency deployment.
Captain Ludovico D Librilla Jr., commander of CGDNEL, instructed all coast guard stations and substations to maintain the highest state of readiness in the district.
“This means ensuring their search and rescue gear, as well as their vehicles and Rescue Boats, are fully operational and prepared to tackle any weather-related emergencies or disasters that may arise,” the PCG said.
Librilla also reminded the public to take safety precautionary measures to keep the communities safe and secure amid the heavy rainfall and flooding
The Coast Guard District North Western Luzon (CGDNWLZN) also placed on alert all of its personnel in all ports in the region so they could immediately respond to maritime incidents due to Carina.
“Essential first aid and rescue equipment, as well as radio communication devices, are fully operational in case of emergencies. This is to ensure the safety and security of people within our area of responsibility,” said Captain Ivan Roldan, commander of CGDNWLZN.
866K affected
In total, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 866,483 individuals (179,744 families) were already affected due to the combined effects of Carina, habagat, and the former tropical depression “Butchoy”.
Of this, more than 600,000 individuals (121,000 families) were displaced by flooding and landslides in nine affected regions. The affected regions were Mimaropa (Region 4B), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The casualty count remained at eight: seven of them were validated while another one in BARMM remained undergoing confirmation. The validated fatalities were recorded in Region 9 (four deaths), and one each in Region 10, 11, and BARMM.
There were also one missing person and two injured in Region 10.