‘Kiyapo’ unleashes floods across PH

Philippine Coast Guard rescuers use flotation devices and guide ropes to safely evacuate flood victims through swift floodwaters during rescue operations in Western Visayas on July 24, 2026. SN1 Suriaga, Philippine Coast Guard via Hazel P. Villa TUGUEGARAO CITY—Tropical Storm “Kiyapo” (international name: Noul) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) battered large parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday, triggering floods, landslides, road closures, forced evacuations, sea travel suspensions, and widespread class cancellations across the country. A Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning remained in effect over parts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, while moderate to heavy rains were reported in Batanes, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and nearby provinces. Article continues after this advertisement The storm was tracked above Northern Luzon just below the Luzon Strait and is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday morning. In Cagayan, in-person classes were suspended in 24 municipalities and Tuguegarao City, while 95 residents from 21 families in Santa Ana, Lal-lo and Gonzaga were preemptively evacuated. A liquor ban was also imposed in Tuguegarao City and the towns of Lal-lo and Aparri. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) advised motorists to exercise caution on mountain roads in the Cordillera. While highways leading to Baguio City remained open, road slips reduced traffic to a single lane in parts of Calanasan, Apayao, and damaged bridge girders limited passage along the Pico-Lamtang Road in Benguet. Sea travel was also suspended in parts of Zambales province in Central Luzon and Antique province in Western Visayas. Rising water levels In Calabarzon, the Laguna Lake Development Authority urged lakeshore communities to prepare for rising water levels in Laguna de Bay, which stood at 11.15 meters as of Friday, below the 12.50-meter critical level. The agency advised local governments to clear waterways and urged fishers to reinforce fish pens and cages against strong winds and rough waters. Article continues after this advertisement In Western Visayas, floodwaters submerged 40 of Iloilo City’s 180 barangays, prompting disaster officials to monitor rising water levels as some communities experienced knee- to waist-deep flooding. Weather bureau Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) earlier placed Iloilo City and several municipalities under a Red Rainfall Warning. Article continues after this advertisement Classes were suspended in 16 Iloilo municipalities, while the Philippine Coast Guard rescued 20 residents, including children, stranded by floodwaters in Guimaras and Antique. In Hamtic, Antique, flooding and a landslide rendered sections of the national highway impassable. Heavy rains also hit Bohol, triggering floods, a landslide in Pilar, road damage near Malinao Dam, and the collapse of a perimeter fence in Candijay. Authorities restricted a section of the Dat-an-Carmen-Sierra Bullones-Pilar-Alicia Road to light vehicles and advised motorists to take alternate routes. Evacuation In General Santos City, about 500 families were evacuated after flash floods inundated low-lying communities, affecting around 1,000 families. Mayor Lorelie Geronimo Pacquiao led evacuation efforts as the Makar River swelled following a daylong downpour. Flooding also damaged the Sapu Masla Bridge in Malapatan and threatened the Kumaba Bridge in Maasim, Sarangani, prompting traffic restrictions. Governor Rogelio Pacquiao suspended classes at all levels, while overflowing rivers in Maasim damaged a hanging bridge, swept away several houses, and forced families to evacuate. No deaths or injuries were reported. Kiyapo neared severe tropical storm strength after making landfall over Camiguin Island in Calayan, Cagayan, on Friday afternoon. As of 4 p.m. Friday, the storm was moving west-northwest at 30 kph over the coastal waters of Calayan Island, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 115 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remained in effect over Batanes, northern Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, northern Apayao, and northern Ilocos Norte, where stormy weather and heavy to intense rainfall were expected to persist through the night. Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, northern and central Aurora, the rest of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Even as it leaves the country, Kiyapo could intensify into a severe tropical storm, which may prompt the raising of Wind Signal No. 3 in affected areas. REPORTS FROM VILLAMOR VISAYA JR., JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT, DELFIN T. MALLARI JR., HAZEL P. VILLA, LEO UDTOHAN AND EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ