Many Luzon areas flooded due to Florita

Severe Tropical Storm Florita exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning but not before causing floods in many parts of the country, particularly in Northern Luzon.

According to Darlene Cay's report on Unang Balita, houses and streets in barangays Lacub and Baay in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, were flooded due to swollen rivers.

In total, 20 barangays were flooded in Batac City, prompting evacuation.

In Dagupan, Pangasinan, floodwaters reaching two feet high stranded many motorists. Twelve barangays were also being monitored in the city due to the rising water level in the Sinocalan-Pantal River.

Four houses, along with several animals, were also swept away by flood in Alabel, Sarangani. Twenty families were affected due to this, but there were no reported casualties, according to authorities.

The Cagayan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said 600 families or over 2,000 individuals from 15 cities in Cagayan were transferred to evacuation centers.

Two were reportedly injured in the province due to Florita.

On the other hand, water level at the Marikina River went down on Tuesday night and reached normal level before dawn on Wednesday.

A separate Unang Balita report said water level at the river went down to near 14-meter mark from 15.5 meters on Tuesday.

About 100 families are still in evacuation centers in Marikina City, it said.

In Quezon City, over 500 residents of Barangay Bagong Silangan were evacuated due to rising water level at a nearby river, according to a separate Unang Balitang report by James Agustin.

As of 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Florita (international name: Ma-on) was already out of PAR but Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over 11 areas, according to PAGASA.

Classes in public schools and government work were canceled on Wednesday in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, and Bataan due to the effects of Florita.  —KBK, GMA News