MASINLOC, Zambales — Fifty-nine families, composed of 172 individuals, fled flooded areas in three northern Zambales towns starting Tuesday, August 4, as the former Tropical Depression (TD) Luis interacted with the southwest monsoon (habagat) and whipped up torrential rains that inundated riverine areas.

Rolex Estella, head of the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said most of the evacuees are from Sta. Cruz, the northernmost town in the province, where 39 families composed of 120 individuals fled their homes in the villages of San Fernando and Canaynayan.

The rest are from Candelaria town, with 18 families and 46 individuals, and Palauig, which recorded two affected families composed of six persons.

AS of Wednesday, August 5, a total of 53 families are still in evacuation centers here while six others are staying with relatives, Estella said.

At the height of heavy downpour on Wednesday, personnel from the Candelaria Fire Station (CFS), assisted by the 1^st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Zambales Provincial Police Office, rescued four families stranded at Sitio Tagor in Barangay Malabon.

Photos released by the CFS showed their personnel in waist-deep waters at Tagor to rescue residents, as well as livestock. The responders also helped residents bring essential belongings to higher ground.

All 13 municipalities in Zambales, as well as Olongapo City, have suspended classes on Wednesday in all levels at both public and private schools in the province due to heavy rains and isolated floodings in low-lying areas.

GOVERNMENT WORK SUSPENSION

The provincial government also announced on Wednesday afternoon the suspension of work in government offices starting at 3:00 pm in accordance with Memorandum Circular No. 121 from the Office of the President, which covered the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, and Zambales, as well as the National Capital Region.

The circular, issued under the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, however directed agencies delivering basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other vital services to continue operations and render necessary services.

It also left the localized cancellation of classes in other areas to the discretion of local chief executives, and the suspension of work in private companies and offices to their respective heads.

The Zambales PDRRMO said it is closely monitoring coastal and riverine areas, including flood plains, as Tropical Storm Maymay (international name Kujira) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday and is expected to barrel through Northern Luzon.

DOST-PAGASA has placed Zambales on Yellow Warning Level as of 2:00 pm on Wednesday, along with Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, and parts of Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas. (Taktikom News and Features)

📸 Bureau of Fire Protection personnel evacuate residents and livestock from Sitio Tagur in Barangay Malabon, Candelaria, Zambales on Tuesday, as typhoon-induced “habagat” rains flooded the area. (Photos courtesy of Candelaria Fire Station- Zambales)