Olongapo placed under state of calamity; one dead due to flood

Olongapo City in Zambales was placed under a state of calamity after continuous torrential rains on Sunday caused flooding in many areas, according to a report on Unang Balita by Cecille Villarosa on Tuesday.

Mayor Rolen Paulino said 60 percent of the city's population were affected by the floods.

Sixteen out of 17 barangays were flooded.

The worst flooding occurred in Barangay Sta. Rita where water levels reached the second floor of houses.

Some 570 individuals or 183 families had to stay at an evacuation center.

Residents said the water rose quickly so many of them were not able to save items from their homes.

Paulino said a woman died after a landslide buried her house at the foot of a mountain in Barangay Mabayuan.

Meanwhile, many residents, especially in Barangay Sta. Rita, were spotted still cleaning their homes of mud on Tuesday.

Many homes were flooded, and as floodwaters receded, mud was left in houses and buildings.

The local government sent out teams to clear the roads of mud and collect garbage.

It also distributed doxycycline to hospitals for the treatment of leptospiroris.

Olongapo City had a huge flood in 2013, and 656 cases of leptospirosis were recorded then. The local government hopes to avoid having a leptospirosis outbreak.

The calamity fund will be used for declogging and cleaning the drainage system, Paulino said.

Classes in all levels in public and private schools were canceled on Tuesday.

Some schools were among those flooded.

Power went out after 12 a.m. Tuesday.

PAGASA said moderate to at times heavy rain due to the southwest monsoon (Habagat) will be felt on Tuesday in Zambales. —KG, GMA News