Large swaths of lush greenery were flooded after rivers burst their banks, leaving only the tops of trees visible above the waterline.
Landslides cut off roads to some isolated towns and flooding inundated some bridges. However, authorities said they’d not confirmed any deaths brought on by high water levels.
“This is one of the worst floods in decades,” said Rogelio Sending, an information officer in Cagayan province in northeastern Luzon.
Local disaster authorities said the floods forced about 66,000 people from their homes, with some having to be rescued by rescue teams on boats.
In the north of the country, heavy rains have been a part of the monsoon season for nearly a month, made worse by not less than three typhoons which have hit the Philippines since November.
Typhoon Kammuri hit the storm-prone country this week, killing not less than 13 people.
Manila airport has reopened after Typhoon Kammuri hit the Philippines
Manila airport has reopened after Typhoon Kammuri hit the Philippines
Authorities liable for the disaster haven’t released details of the deaths of other victims, but local police reports indicate that some could have drowned or been crushed by trees.
Still, the storm damaged 135 schools and destroyed nearly 1,200 homes, with crop damage within the hardest-hit areas estimated at nearly $16 million.
Each 12 months, the Philippines is hit by a mean of 20 storms and typhoons, killing a whole bunch of individuals and pushing people in disaster-prone areas right into a state of persistent poverty.
