Tropical storm Egay has brought flooding, stranded passengers in several ports, cut power supply, and caused the canceling of domestic flights in the Philippines.

Philippine people wade through flooding caused by heavy rains following storm Egay (Photo: mb.com.ph)

At least seven areas were inundated in the northern provinces of La Union, Palawan and Apayao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said, adding that 582 passengers and 89 vessels of all kinds were stranded at ports in northern and central Philippines.

Blackouts were recorded in eight towns in La Union and in several parts of Ilocos Sur province. At least 18 domestic flights bound for northern Luzon were also cancelled.

The NDRRMC said there was no reported casualty so far from Egay, which already left the Luzon island on July 5 afternoon.

Egay, which has weakened slightly, sustained the maximum winds of 85 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 100 kph. It is expected to exit the Philippines by the afternoon of July 8.

Also on July 5, Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said a drought crisis has been alleviated in 27 out of the 40 affected provinces in the country.

DDPM Director-General Chatchai Promlert attributed the improved situation to relief measures taken by the authorities, such as delivering water to drought-hit areas for household consumption and farming activities, rainmaking operations and digging wells.

The other 13 provinces remain severely impacted by drought.

The crisis still persists in 5,035 villages, or around 6.72 percent of all villages across the nation, but is expected to abate due to forecast rainfalls, he said.

(Source: VNA)