Olongapo City under state of calamity after massive flooding

Flood in Olongapo amid sustained rain. INQUIRER/Joanna Aglibot

OLONGAPO CITY — The City Council on Monday afternoon placed Olongapo under a state of calamity following massive floods that submerged houses and establishments here since Sunday, July 22.

Sustained rains over the weekend triggered the floods and a landslide that killed a woman and injured four other members of her household when their home was crushed by rocks and debris in Otero Avenue, Barangay (village) Mabayuan.

A city disaster response team dug out Maria Veronica Rafael, 35; her husband Bryan Joseph Rafael, 34; and their children Kyle Cassandra Rafael, 10; Klyde Chelzie Rafael, 6 and a relative Richard Sebastian at 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Maria Veronica, who was severely wounded, was rushed to the hospital but died during treatment, according to Angelito Layug, chief of Olongapo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Her husband and children are recuperating. /je