Typhoon Jenny (international name: Dujuan) left the country early Tuesday bound for Taiwan, but not before it caused heavy downpours that triggered flash floods in different parts of the country.
The weather bureau said the typhoon grew in intensity and almost reached supertyphoon level as it crossed the country’s northeastern seas last week. It now threatens to make landfall in Taiwan with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 220 kph.
Even with the typhoon gone, parts of Luzon will continue to experience rains until Wednesday, the weather bureau said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said thunderstorms brought by the typhoon caused massive flooding in Negros Occidental, affecting 378 families in Isabela, Himamaylan City and
Kabankalan City.
Floods were also reported in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, where two fishermen reportedly went missing.
Fishing on river
Paharodin Tinggalong, 20, and Lacmodin Tinggalong, 17, were fishing on a river when strong current capsized their boat.
Most of the affected residents in Negros Occidental returned to their homes on Saturday after the floodwaters subsided.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) maintained storm warning signal No. 1 over the Batanes group of islands, which would continue to have rains and gusty winds.
The weather bureau also said that monsoon rains could still cause flash floods and landslides in Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan.
The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms, according to Pagasa.
State meteorologist Gener Quitlong said the retreating typhoon would continue to affect northern and Central Luzon until Wednesday.
He said some cyclones came close to the country but did not cross its borders this month.
The weather bureau also warned of severe dry conditions in most of the country. A particularly strong El Niño is expected to peak in the last months of the year and will continue to affect the country well into the next.
Pagasa rainfall data showed that many parts of the country would suffer from less than normal rainfall this month.
Pagasa’s climatology monitoring and prediction section predicted that at least 47 provinces, including Metro Manila, will suffer moderate to severe drought, while 20 other provinces will experience a dry spell from September to February due to El Niño.—With a report from Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao