DAVAO Region is set to experience moderate to heavy rains this New Year’s Eve, driven by the ongoing surge of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting much of Mindanao.
According to the 24-hour localized weather forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), valid until Tuesday morning, December 31, 2024, the region faces possible flash floods and landslides due to the expected rainfall.
“The rest of Davao Region will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds coming from the East to Southeast will prevail and the coastal waters will be slight to moderate,” Pagasa reported.
In addition to Davao, the ITCZ will bring light to moderate, occasionally heavy rains to parts of Palawan, Bicol, Mimaropa, the entire Visayas, and the rest of Mindanao.
Since Thursday evening, December 26, continuous heavy rains have caused significant flooding across the region. The Office of the Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) has reported 22 casualties, with 20 individuals injured and two missing.
Thirteen areas in Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental have been affected by the weather conditions. The ITCZ has displaced approximately 13,979 people or 3,446 families. Of these, 816 families (3,448 people) are currently sheltering in evacuation centers, while 30 families (133 people) are temporarily displaced outside the centers. DEF
