Floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains and enhanced by four weather disturbances so far in August have left more than 30 people dead in the Philippines, mostly in Luzon, the local authorities said.
August alone saw four tropical cyclones entering the Philippine area of responsibility, with the latest, Typhoon Obet, also known as Typhoon Saudel, being the 15th for the year.
In August 2025, the country had experienced the ninth cyclone of the year, Isang.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Aug 29 placed the death toll due to weather-induced calamities at 32, starting the count from Luis, which made landfall on Aug 3.
At least 8 million people, or 2.3 million families, have been affected across 10 regions, the OCD said.
Among provinces, Benguet recorded the highest number of deaths, with 15, all from landslides. Ten of them were in Baguio City, three in Atok town and two in La Trinidad.
Four deaths were recorded in Rizal province, with two of them due to a rockslide in Rodriguez town. One person was pinned to death by a fallen tree in Antipolo, while another drowned in Binangonan.
Batangas province recorded four deaths: one drowned in Batangas City, and another in Mabini, one electrocuted in Lipa and another killed in a landslide in Santa Teresita.
The other fatalities were recorded in the provinces of La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Negros Occidental, and in Caloocan City.
At least 19 people have been injured, including 12 in Benguet province.
Three people remained missing: one each in Quezon City, Manila and Batangas City.
Some 25,800 people from 7,500 families were staying in 297 evacuation centres.
The OCD said about 2,900 houses had been damaged, including 349 classified as totally damaged. — Phillipine Daily Inquirer/ANN
