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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Habagat' death toll rises to 32; Pampanga overwhelmed as house gets swept away by raging flood

'Habagat' death toll rises to 32; Pampanga overwhelmed as house gets swept away by raging flood

Published Aug 29, 2026 12:29 pm

At A Glance

  • The death toll due to the enhanced habagat rose to 32 while eight million people were affected across 10 regions, the Office of Civil Defense said on Aug. 29.
  • Floodwaters sweep away a two-storey house in Lubao, Pampanga after the Sta. Rita Dam overflowed on Friday. Residents evacuated safely, with no reported casualties.
  • Damage reached P8.43 billion as infrastructure losses hit P6.11 billion and agricultural damage was estimated at P2.32 billion. A total of 117 areas were placed under a state of calamity, while 297 areas remained flooded.
Raging floodwaters swallow a two-storey house after the Sta. Rita Dam overflowed in Lubao, Pampanga amid the effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) on Aug. 28, 2026. (Photo: Rockwell de Leon)
Raging floodwaters swallow a two-storey house after the Sta. Rita Dam overflowed in Lubao, Pampanga amid the effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) on Aug. 28, 2026. (Photo: Rockwell de Leon)
The death toll from the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) climbed to 32 as heavy rains continued to trigger floods, landslides, and other hazards across parts of the country, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Saturday, Aug. 29.
A total of eight million individuals, composed of 2.3 million families, were affected across 10 regions namely Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9).
The OCD said 15 people died in Benguet; four each in Rizal and Batangas; two each in Occidental Mindoro and Caloocan City; and one each in La Union, Quezon province, Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental. Details on one more fatality have yet to be confirmed by the OCD.
The fatalities – which were attributed to the combined effects of habagat and previous tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng – were caused by landslides, drowning, rockslides, electrocution and being struck by a fallen tree.
Nineteen individuals were also injured while three others were missing in Quezon City, Manila, and Batangas.
The worsening situation was highlighted in Lubao, Pampanga where raging floodwaters swallowed a two-storey house after the Sta. Rita Dam overflowed on Friday, Aug. 28.
A report from the Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Region (RDRRMC 3) showed the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the boundary of Barangays Santo Cristo and Sta. Rita. Riverbanks where a dike collapsed, sending floodwaters toward nearby communities.
A video captured by a netizen showed the house breaking apart before being carried downstream.
Authorities said residents of the house managed to evacuate safely before the structure collapsed.
“No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident,” the report confirmed.
117 areas under state of calamity
Government data showed 117 areas were placed under a state of calamity, including province-wide declarations in Benguet (14 areas), Bataan (12 areas), Bulacan (24 areas), Pampanga (21 areas), Zambales (13 areas), and Cavite (23 areas). Also placed under the same status were four areas in Pangasinan; three in Occidental Mindoro; and one each in Rizal, Batangas, and Dagupan.
A total of 297 areas also remained flooded, the majority of which were in Central Luzon, with 281 areas still inundated.
Combined agri, infra damage at P8.43 billion
Damage to infrastructure ballooned to P6.11 billion while agricultural losses reached P2.32 billion.
Meanwhile, the OCD reported that P1.65 billion worth of assistance has been provided to the affected families.

Related Tags

OCD Pampanga flood habagat
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