Four dead in landslides as Maymay drenches Luzon

Landslides triggered by heavy rains from Tropical Depression Maymay have claimed four lives in the Philippines, with authorities reporting the fatalities on Thursday. The storm has battered Luzon, the archipelago's main island, with intense rainfall over the past four days, leading to the closure of government offices and schools in Manila and several northern provinces.

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One is alive. Two were dead on the spot.

In Benguet province, north of Manila, a restaurant was buried by a hillside collapse on Thursday, killing three employees who were in the kitchen. Colonel Dionisio Bonoy of the Benguet provincial police confirmed the deaths, noting that one person was rescued and hoped to survive. The national disaster agency separately confirmed two other deaths from a landslide in neighboring Rizal province the previous day.

As of Thursday afternoon, Benguet and La Union were under an orange rainfall warning, signaling the need for residents to prepare for ongoing rain, flooding, and potential landslides. While Maymay weakened while traversing the Cordilleras, its sustained winds were around 45 kilometers per hour with gusts up to 75 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained in effect for several areas in Northern Luzon.

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At 10:00 a.m. (0200 GMT), the survivor was retrieved. With the help of God, we hope he survives.

Forecasters at PAGASA predicted Maymay would cross Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters east of Isabela within 12 hours, possibly weakening into a remnant low before merging with Tropical Cyclone Dolphin. Meteorologist John Manalo warned that severe winds could still affect most of the country, and with the land already saturated, the risk of flooding and landslides remains high. Gale warnings were also issued for the western seaboard of Northern Luzon due to high waves.

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Since our land is already saturated and soaked, the potential for flooding and landslides will be higher.