As of 6 a.m. Saturday, July 25, Tropical Cyclone Kiyapo—internationally named Noul—has intensified into a typhoon and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), leaving at least 35 barangays in Iloilo City flooded and over 500 residents affected, according to the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (ICEOC).
Typhoon Kiyapo Exits PAR as Iloilo City Responds to Lingering Floods
According to Situation Report No. 3 released by the ICEOC, a total of 45 barangays experienced flooding following heavy rains brought by the weather disturbance. Floodwaters have receded in 10 of those areas, but 35 barangays remain inundated. In response to the ongoing situation, authorities have placed the city’s Emergency Operations Center under a Blue Alert.
The city government reported that 132 families, translating to 508 individuals, felt the impact of the flooding. Out of that total, 73 families comprising 221 individuals sought shelter inside four evacuation centers distributed across nine affected barangays. These facilities are currently housing displaced residents hailing from Calubihan and San Vicente in Jaro; Ticud in La Paz; Alalasan and Don Esteban in Lapuz; Airport in Mandurriao; and San Antonio, Compania Central, and Infante in Molo.
Extent of Infrastructure Damage and Flood Depths Across Districts
Initial assessments conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) documented three partially damaged houses that affected five families, or 15 individuals. These damaged properties sit in Barangay Airport in Mandurriao, Barangay Compania Central in Molo, and Barangay San Vicente in Jaro. Additionally, strong winds tied to the weather disturbance uprooted five trees across Jaro, La Paz, and Mandurriao, though the city recorded no toppled electric posts.
Remaining flood depths vary significantly across districts, including portions of Arevalo, City Proper, Jaro, La Paz, Lapuz, Mandurriao, and Molo. Depths range from a few inches up to 48 inches in parts of Ticud, La Paz. Other heavily affected zones include Sinkway in Lapuz with 24 to 36 inches of floodwater, alongside Don Esteban in Lapuz and Desamparados in Jaro, which both recorded depths of 36 inches.
Conversely, waters have receded in several previously flooded neighborhoods, including Kahirupan, Ortiz, Timawa Tanza 2, and Inday in City Proper; Bantud in La Paz; Oñate de Leon and Navais in Mandurriao; and Calumpang, South San Jose, and West Timawa in Molo.
Emergency Operations and Outlook as Weather Conditions Improve
Rainfall over the preceding 12 hours remained light to moderate. Monitoring data from the West Visayas State University station showed a highest accumulation of 11 millimeters, while the Lapuz Depot weather station recorded wind speeds reaching up to 50 kilometers per hour. Ahead of its exit from the PAR early Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) noted that Kiyapo packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 150 kph, moving west-northwest at 25 kph with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 470 kilometers from the center.
Despite improving weather conditions locally, municipal authorities are maintaining 24/7 emergency operations. Current response measures involve continuous flood surveillance, public information campaigns, evacuation assistance, declogging operations, and active coordination with barangay officials and response agencies. As a precaution against ongoing flood hazards, the ICEOC recommended implementing an asynchronous alternative delivery mode for students at all levels in Iloilo City on July 25.
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