Flashflood hits Sta Rosa City, other parts of Laguna

SAN PEDRO LAGUNA— Still reeling from the effects of the August monsoon, several towns and cities in Laguna were again hit by flood caused by tropical storm Ofel.

In Sta. Rosa City, floodwater suddenly rose submerging the villages of Tagapo, Macabling, Malusak, Ibaba, and Kanluran in knee- to-chest-deep water. In Barangay Dita, police reported that some houses were already under water.

“We were surprised because there was no flood earlier this afternoon. The water rose very fast in just a matter of two hours. It was like a flashflood,” said city information officer Aries Zapanta.

Zapanta said the water also started to rise at past 5 p.m., making several roads in the city impassable.

Quoting city disaster authorities, he said the amount of rainfall between 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday reached 120 cm that was equivalent to the average rainfall over five to six days.

He said water rushing down from the upland Silang and Tagaytay City in Cavite also contributed to the flood.

“Grabe, gabi pa naman. Ang bilis umangat ng tubig (This is terrible and it’s night time. The water rose so fast),” resident Marian Navarrete posted on Facebook around 6:30 p.m.

In Calamba City, flood also rose around 6 p.m. along the national road, according to Laguna Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Jen Sorel Jasareno.

Motorist Zaira Lopez said the knee-deep flood slowed down traffic along Calamba City-Los Baños area.

Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Fausto Manzanilla said that as of 5:30 p.m., 30 families from Barangay Lalakay in Los Baños were evacuated and 15 families in Barangay San Cristobal in Calamba City due to the rising water.

Also flooded were the lakeshore villages of Landayan, Cuyab, Poblacion, and San Roque in San Pedro town. Flood rendered village roads in Batughan and Bulihan in Famy town closed to traffic.