Heavy rains from shear line, NE monsoon displace over 44K in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro

Heavy rainfall from a shear line and Northeast Monsoon caused flooding that affected more than 44,000 individuals in Palawan and Occidental Mindoro on Monday.

In Palawan, over 13,067 families or 44,058 people were displaced due to flood threats across ten cities and municipalities including Puerto Princesa City where the Philippine Coast Guard rescued 108 individuals from seven villages.

Torrential rains led to chest-high flooding in parts of Palawan and Occidental Mindoro, prompting evacuations and causing impassable roads in Oriental Mindoro with nine barangays affected in Puerto Princesa alone.

PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda reported that Palawan received up to 200 millimeters of rainfall, with moderate to heavy rains continuing after initial downpours.

In Oriental Mindoro, authorities monitored a critical rise in water levels at Alag River and faced impassable roads due to flooding; the shear line also caused rain there, extending its impact across Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and parts of Mimaropa.