MANILA — Flood threats will continue looming in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces in Central Luzon, even after Typhoon Rosita exits landmass and batters Northern Luzon.
“Both provinces may experience flooding in the forthcoming days,” weather bureau hydrologist Richard Orendain told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.
Rosita has begun dumping moderate rain in Nueva Ecija province, also in Central Luzon, after making a landfall on Tuesday in Isabela province in Northern Luzon.
Orendain said it will take days before such rain flowing over land reaches the Pampanga River, which traverses Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan, raising the possibility of flooding in Pampanga and Bulacan.
“Pampanga River is silted already and has drainage problems, so rain reaching this waterway will raise the water level there and possibly cause an overflow that will flood the surrounding areas,” he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects Rosita to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday evening (Oct. 31).
In its morning advisory on Tuesday, PAGASA warned of possible flooding in Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Macabebe, Masantol, and the towns along Angat River.
“Such areas are at Pampanga River’s lower portion,” Orendain noted.
The advisory also warned about possible flooding in Sasmuan, Guagua, Lubao, Bacolor, Sta. Rita, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, Mexico, San Fernando City, Floridablanca, and other adjacent towns.
Orendain said such areas are at Pampanga River’s middle portion.
PAGASA’s advisory further warned about “slow to possible gradual rise” in water of Pampanga River’s upstream sections and tributaries until around Tuesday afternoon.
Flooding and landslides are possible until then in Nueva Ecija as well as eastern parts of Bulacan and Tarlac, PAGASA noted.
Those areas are in Pampanga River’s upstream or upper portion, Orendain said.
As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, PAGASA eyed Rosita in Bambang town in Nueva Vizcaya. It was reported to be moving west-southwest at 25 kilometers per hour while packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. (Catherine Teves/PNA)
