Shear line, ITCZ bring flood to several areas

Several areas in Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas were flooded anew as the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and shear line dumped persistent rains.

Non-stop rains submerged roads and farmlands in the towns of Aborlan, Sofronio Española, Narra and Brooke’s Point.

In Puerto Princesa City, Brigada News FM Palawan reported that the bodies of two children were recovered from a van that was swept away by floodwaters while crossing the Puerto Princesa South National Highway.

The two victims, aged six and nine, have been recovered, while their parents remain missing as local authorities continue their search efforts.

Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that Puerto Princesa City received at least 353 millimeters of rainfall from Sunday morning to Monday morning — 12 times higher than the city’s average rainfall for February.

In Baco, Oriental Mindoro, at least four barangay roads are not passable as floodwaters reached knee and waist-deep levels, while Alag River remains critical.

Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte also suspended classes at all public and private levels due to the threat of flooding in flood-prone areas and landslides.

The same situation was observed in Northern Samar, where heavy rains caused waist-deep and knee-deep flooding in the towns of Catubig, Las Navas and Palapag.

“Because of the northeast monsoon, its cold air, and the easterlies, the warm air, results in the formation of the shear line which brings rains over Bicol Region and Visayas,” PAGASA weather specialist Chenel Dominguez said in a live weather forecast.

Heavy to intense rains, which range from 100 to 200 milliliters are still expected in Sorsogon, Samar provinces, Leyte, and Palawan until this Tuesday, 11 February.