(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — The combined impact of Typhoon "Inday" (international name: Bavi) and the southwest monsoon have left at least 10 people dead, affected nearly 50,000 people, flooded several areas and forced the suspension of classes in public and private schools, disaster agencies said on Friday.
The 10 fatalities were from a landslide that hit a farming village in Malapatan, Sarangani.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) continued coordinating with local government units and national agencies to ensure a swift response while the cyclone weakened as it moved toward the waters east of Taiwan.
Based on the latest OCD data, 10,984 families, or nearly 50,000 individuals, in Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Soccsksargen have been affected, with 1,777 families taking shelter in 22 evacuation centers.
The enhanced habagat also triggered widespread flooding and landslides in parts of Mindanao. The OCD reported 74 flooded areas across Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The agency also reported two people who drowned in Bukidnon, although it said the fatalities were being verified.
To support ongoing response operations, the OCD said food and non-food relief items, emergency responders, and search, rescue and retrieval teams have been pre-positioned in affected areas.
The agency added that preemptive evacuations remained underway in high-risk communities to protect residents and ensure a timely and orderly government response.
"The OCD remains in close coordination with local government units and partner agencies as it continues to monitor the effects of Typhoon Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon, particularly in Mindanao," the agency said.
Authorities also remain on alert in parts of the Visayas and Luzon expected to experience adverse weather as the typhoon continues to influence weather conditions across the country.
Metro floods, class suspensions
Five cities in Metro Manila were flooded as persistent rains from the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon ‘Inday’ continued to inundate parts of the capital, with two roads in Pasig becoming impassable to some vehicles, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
The MMDA’s Flood Control Information Center said that as of 2:50 p.m., most flooded roads remained passable despite rising water levels, although motorists were advised to take extra caution as intermittent rains continued across Metro Manila.
Flooded roads reported by the MMDA:
Mandaluyong City
* F. Ortigas St. corner Boni Ave. – Half-knee deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
Quezon City
* EDSA Aurora Tunnel (NB/SB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* EDSA Aurora Service Road (NB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* Kamuning Service Road (NB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* Araneta Ave. between Quezon Ave. and E. Rodriguez – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* EDSA Santolan Service Road (NB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* White Plains (WB/EB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* EDSA North Ave. – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* Quezon Ave.–Biak na Bato – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* Araneta Ave.–E. Rodriguez (NB/SB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
* EDSA Main Ave. (NB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
Manila
* Taft Ave. from Pedro Gil to in front of the Philippine General Hospital (NB) – Half-gutter deep (about four inches); passable to all types of vehicles.
* España Blvd.–Maceda – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
Pasig City
* Valle Verde VI Outermost Lane – Above knee level; not passable to all types of vehicles.
* C5-Ortigas, Valle Verde VI southbound innermost lane – Above gutter level; not passable to light vehicles.
Marikina City
* Marcos Highway–SM Marikina Bridge service road (WB) – Gutter-deep; passable to all types of vehicles.
The MMDA advised motorists to continue monitoring flood advisories as rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon were expected to persist.
As a result of the floods, classes were suspended in most of Metro Manila:
* Caloocan City – All levels (public and private); shift to asynchronous classes.
* Las Piñas City – All levels (public and private).
* Malabon City – All levels (public and private); shift to alternative delivery modes.
* Mandaluyong City – Preschool to Senior High School, including the Alternative Learning System (ALS), in public and private schools; modular and asynchronous learning.
* Marikina City – All levels (public and private); both face-to-face and online classes suspended.
* Muntinlupa City – All levels (public and private).
* Parañaque City – All levels (public and private).
* Pasay City – All levels (public and private); shift to alternative learning modalities.
* Pasig City – Afternoon in-person classes from Kindergarten to Senior High School, including Day Care and ALS, in public and private schools; schools to implement synchronous or asynchronous learning.
* Quezon City – Child Development Centers, Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 12 and ALS in public schools; shift to alternative delivery modes.
* San Juan City – All levels (public and private).
* Valenzuela City – All levels (public and private).
In a separate announcement, Manila suspended ace-to-face classes from preschool to senior high school.
In a Facebook post, Moreno said the cancellation was recommended by the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (MCDRRMD) after it reported moderate to heavy rainfall of 50 to 100 millimeters, with conditions expected to persist throughout the day.
He said schools were advised to shift to Alternative Delivery Mode.
Pagasa advised the public to continue monitoring official weather bulletins and local government advisories as the enhanced southwest monsoon was expected to continue bringing periods of heavy rainfall despite the gradual weakening of Inday.
'Inday' weakens
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Typhoon Inday continued to weaken Friday as it tracked northwestward over the Philippine Sea toward the waters east of Taiwan, although it warned that Northern Luzon could still experience strong winds and heavy rains.
In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, Pagasa said the center of the typhoon was estimated at 570 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes.
The cyclone was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts reaching 170 kph, and a central pressure of 960 hectopascals.
Pagasa maintained Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over Batanes, the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.
Signal No. 1 remained in effect over the rest of the Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, and the eastern portions of Mountain Province and Ifugao.
The weather bureau warned that heavy rainfall and damaging winds may still occur even in areas outside the forecast landfall point and confidence cone, urging residents to remain vigilant.
Pagasa said Inday was expected to continue moving northwestward while remaining over the Philippine Sea and is forecast to pass closest to Extreme Northern Luzon between Friday night and Saturday morning.
The typhoon is then expected to head toward the southern islands of Japan and may pass close to or make landfall along the northern coast of Taiwan before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning or afternoon.
After leaving the country's area of responsibility, Inday is forecast to make landfall along the eastern coast of mainland China by Saturday evening or early Sunday, where it is expected to weaken into a severe tropical storm as it moves farther inland.
Despite its gradual weakening, Pagasa said Inday was expected to remain a typhoon while inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
