MANILA, Philippines — The combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay have now affected an estimated 7.4 million people, or about 2.1 million families, across several parts of the Philippines, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The figure, recorded as of 6 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, represents a sharp increase from the number of people previously reported affected by the weather disturbances.
NDRRMC said affected communities are spread across Regions I, II, III, V, VI and IX, CALABARZON, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila and MIMAROPA.
29 deaths reported as severe weather continues
The NDRRMC’s latest tally puts the number of reported fatalities at 29, with 19 people injured and three others missing.
Benguet recorded the highest number of deaths at 15, while fatalities were also reported in Rizal and Batangas, Caloocan, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental.
The casualties have been linked to incidents associated with the severe weather, including flooding, landslides and other hazards.
The death toll had already been rising in earlier reports. On August 13, the NDRRMC had reported 21 deaths and more than 3.7 million people affected, showing how quickly the overall impact expanded as the weather systems continued to affect communities.
Thousands remain in evacuation centers
The disaster has also forced thousands of residents to leave their homes.
As of the latest NDRRMC report, 40,600 people, or around 11,900 families, remain in evacuation centers.
The council also reported approximately 2,300 damaged houses, including 2,057 partially damaged homes and 269 totally destroyed houses.
The scale of the disaster is reflected in the number of areas that have declared a state of calamity.
As of Saturday, 89 areas were under a state of calamity, including areas in Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite and Batangas.
Damage climbs into the billions
The financial impact has also continued to mount.
According to the NDRRMC, infrastructure damage has reached approximately ₱4.7 billion, while damage to agriculture has been estimated at around ₱1.7 billion.
The government and other responders have so far provided approximately ₱1.1 billion in assistance to affected communities.
These figures underscore that the disaster is not limited to flooding and displacement. Damage to roads, public infrastructure, homes, farms and other community assets could create longer-term economic difficulties for affected areas.
Impact grew rapidly in just days
The latest figure represents a major increase compared with earlier NDRRMC updates.
On August 10, nearly 586,000 people had been reported affected by Habagat and the two tropical cyclones. By August 13, the figure had climbed to more than 3.7 million. Another NDRRMC update later placed the affected population at more than 5.1 million.
The latest count of 7.4 million shows the continuing expansion of the disaster’s footprint.
Habagat remains a concern
The weather threat has not completely disappeared.
PAGASA’s latest information shows that Habagat continues to bring rain over parts of Luzon, with rainfall advisories issued for portions of Northern Luzon on August 22. PAGASA has also forecast continued periods of rain and thunderstorms in parts of Luzon and western sections of the country.
This means communities already saturated by previous rainfall could remain vulnerable to flash floods, river swelling and landslides, particularly in low-lying and mountainous areas.
PAGASA had earlier documented the significant rainfall and hazards associated with Tropical Storm Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, including flooding and landslide risks in several areas of Luzon.
What Filipinos should watch next
With millions already affected, authorities are continuing to monitor communities at risk, particularly those in flood-prone and landslide-prone locations.
Residents are urged to continue following advisories from PAGASA, local government units and disaster-response authorities, especially when heavy rain persists or evacuation orders are issued.
For families in vulnerable areas, the immediate priority remains safety: monitor official warnings, avoid crossing swollen rivers and floodwaters, and evacuate early when instructed by authorities.
The bigger picture
What began as the combined impact of Habagat and two tropical cyclones has evolved into a large-scale national disaster affecting millions of Filipinos.
With the affected population now at 7.4 million, 29 reported deaths, billions of pesos in infrastructure and agricultural damage, and thousands still in evacuation centers, authorities face the difficult task of responding to immediate humanitarian needs while preparing communities for further rainfall.
And with Habagat still capable of bringing more rain, the situation may not be over yet.
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