Severe flooding has impacted thousands of homes in Tuguegarao city, Cagayan province, as waters surged over four meters high on November 19, 2024. The flooding followed heavy rainfall and the release of water from Magat Dam due to Typhoon Man-yi, which struck the region over the weekend.
The Cagayan River overflowed, inundating farmland and communities, affecting tens of thousands of residents. Provincial disaster official Ian Valdepenas reported that floodwaters reached alarming levels, with buildings, lamp posts, and trees submerged.
Authorities noted that the land was already saturated from previous typhoons, exacerbating the flooding situation. Man-yi marked the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines within a month, resulting in at least 171 fatalities and widespread destruction of crops and livestock.
In Isabela province, approximately 30,000 individuals remained affected by the flooding, although conditions were gradually improving. Jun Montereal from the Ilagan city disaster preparedness committee indicated that floodwaters were slowly receding.
Carlo Ablan, overseeing operations at Magat Dam, confirmed that three gates were opened to release water, with expectations to reduce this to one gate if weather conditions remain stable.
Over a million residents evacuated prior to the arrival of Typhoon Man-yi, which initially struck as a super typhoon before weakening over Luzon. The storm caused extensive damage, including power outages and structural collapses, with at least eight confirmed deaths.
Experts warn that climate change is intensifying storm patterns, leading to increased rainfall, flash floods, and stronger winds.