Philippine health authorities warn of water-borne diseases amid floods
Manila, Aug 12
Philippine health authorities have issued an alert on water-borne diseases after floods hit the northern Philippines, local media reported on Wednesday.
The local health centre in the Ilocos region, northwest Philippines, has warned residents of rising health risks as enhanced southwest monsoon rains continue to trigger flooding across the region, according to the Manila Bulletin.
Residents were urged to guard against water-borne illnesses such as influenza, leptospirosis and dengue, which commonly spread during the rainy season, according to DOH Ilocos Regional Director Dr Helen D. Tobias, Xinhua News Agency reported.
She warned that leptospirosis can be contracted through exposure to floodwater contaminated with animal urine, and advised those who wade through floods to wash exposed body parts with soap and clean water and seek medical attention.
Red and yellow alerts were raised for power grids in central and southern Philippines on Wednesday as several power plants remained unavailable, according to local media reports.
The Visayas islands in the central Philippines have limited supply as several coal-fired plants remain offline. Six plants in the Visayas region are on forced outage this month alone, with more than 20 others not operating since 2021, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
For the Visayas grid, a red alert is in effect on Wednesday, as available capacity stands at about 2,153 megawatts (MW) against a projected peak demand of 2,394 MW.
In Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, nine power plants are on forced outage for August, while 11 have been unavailable since 2024, and nine others are operating at derated capacities. The available capacity in the region is around 2,779 MW, while peak demand is forecast to reach 2,689 MW.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified post-disaster recovery efforts in the wake of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, official media reported on Wednesday.
Police units in affected areas have been directed to maintain heightened visibility and work closely with local governments as communities begin restoring normal activities, according to a PNP statement.
The PNP reported 26 weather-related fatalities as of Tuesday afternoon, including 25 civilians and one police officer.
"Our responsibility does not end with search and rescue operations. We will remain engaged in the recovery phase," PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. was quoted by the Philippine News Agency as saying on Wednesday.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to see the devastation floods cause. The power grid issues add another layer of difficulty. As someone from Canada, I can't even imagine dealing with this level of infrastructure strain. Sending support to everyone affected.
The power situation is just adding to the misery. In India, we've had our own battles with grid failures during storms. It's a reminder that climate resilience is a global challenge. Also, 26 deaths is really sad - my thoughts are with the families. The police chief's commitment to recovery is commendable.
As someone who's lived through hurricane seasons in Florida, I can relate. The key is prevention and quick response. I hope the Philippines can get the support they need, especially with those power plants being offline for years. That's a bigger infrastructure problem waiting to happen.
The article mentions many power plants have been offline since 2021 - that's a serious operational failure. While the immediate health risks need addressing, the government should also investigate why these plants aren't being repaired. This isn't just about weather, it's about preparedness.
This is so sad. 26 lives lost is too many. I've seen how monsoons affect countries differently, but the human cost is always the same. Hoping for a swift recovery for all affected. The authorities' proactive health warnings are good, but more needs to be done on long-term infrastructure.
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