Fatal Floods and Storm Impact Calumpit Town of Bulacan
CALUMPIT, Bulacan — Three lives were tragically lost amid floods and a storm in Calumpit town of Bulacan. Continuous rains fueled by Typhoon Emong and the southwest monsoon brought severe flooding from July 24 to 25, resulting in a construction worker drowning and a couple electrocuted inside their submerged home.
Manuel Lukban Jr., head of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, identified the drowning victim as Christian Grabahim, 37, a resident of Guiguinto who worked in Calumpit. Grabahim and his colleagues were fishing in a flooded rice field in Barangay Pungo around 4 p.m. on July 25 when he slipped into a deep, strong current and drowned.
Rescue Efforts Fail to Save Drowning Victim
Despite efforts by his companions to find him, they called the Calumpit Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office for assistance. MDRRMO chief Enriquito Santiago Jr. said that rescue teams, including Philippine Coast Guard personnel, arrived before 5 p.m. but were unable to save Grabahim. The flooded rice field had water approximately four feet deep with strong currents, complicating rescue attempts.
Couple Electrocuted Inside Flooded House
On July 24, Felipe Razon, 74, and his wife Ofelia, 57, died of electrocution inside their flooded home in Barangay Calumpang. Felipe was retrieving a fallen iron sheet roof from the flooded area when he touched a live electrical wire attached to it. His wife rushed to help him but was also electrocuted.
Rescuers faced delays reaching the couple due to the live wire in the water. A Manila Electric Company team quickly cut off power, but tragically, the couple had already died by then. The incident highlights the dangers posed by electrical hazards during floods.
Ongoing Flood Crisis in Calumpit
Since July 22, Calumpit has experienced flooding up to six feet deep. The persistent rains from the southwest monsoon, accompanied by storms and high tide from Manila Bay, have submerged the town. Local officials declared a state of emergency to fast-track assistance and relief efforts for affected residents.
Authorities continue monitoring the situation and urging residents to stay alert and heed safety warnings. For more news and updates on flooding and storms, visit Filipinokami.com.
