Metro Manila, Philippines — Disaster management officials reported two deaths while two other people were injured as heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon hit Mindanao.
In its report on Monday, July 15, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said one of the two reported deaths was confirmed, while the other one was still up for validation.
The NDRRMC said the downpour has affected around 60,000 families across Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
More than 4,000 families or around 17,000 people across were already inside evacuation centers, according to the agency.
More than 46,000 families in BARMM were also displaced due to the weather.
The southwest monsoon, or habagat, brought heavy rains over some parts of Mindanao since last Thursday, July 11.
LPA east of Mindanao
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said a cloud cluster east of Mindanao developed into a low pressure area (LPA) on Monday morning.
It said the LPA was last spotted 485 kilometers east of Davao City.
PAGASA said the weather system may intensify into a tropical cyclone within the week.
