PAGADIAN CITY / ILIGAN CITY — The death toll from Tropical Depression Basyang (international name: Penha) rose to 12 on Sunday, February 8, 2026, as disaster officials warned that the rainfall volume in parts of Mindanao has officially surpassed the levels recorded during the catastrophic 2011 Tropical Storm Sendong.
Of the total fatalities, five were reported in Iligan City, where sudden flash floods and landslides caught residents off guard during the pre-dawn hours of Saturday.
Unprecedented Rainfall Meteorologists and local disaster officers noted that Basyang, despite being a tropical depression, carried an extraordinary amount of moisture.
- Sendong Comparison: In some areas of Northern Mindanao, the rainfall recorded over a 24-hour period was twice the volume dumped by Sendong in 2011. This intense downpour led to the rapid swelling of rivers and the inundation of urban centers.
- Mindanao Impact: Widespread flooding has displaced over 64,000 families across the region, with the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Misamis Oriental being the hardest hit.
Rescue and Recovery The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local units are currently focused on reaching isolated communities.
- Iligan City Deaths: The five victims in Iligan were mostly residents of riverside barangays who were swept away by logs and debris.
- Missing Persons: Search and rescue operations are ongoing for several individuals still reported missing in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
- Infrastructure Damage: Major bridges and roads have been rendered impassable due to landslides, hampering the delivery of relief goods.
Power and Services The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that while most transmission services have been restored, some local cooperatives are still struggling with downed distribution lines in flooded areas. In Negros, over 1,000 people were evacuated not only due to floods but also due to the threat of lahar from Mt. Kanlaon triggered by the heavy rains.
Government Response President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fast-track the distribution of food packs and financial aid to the displaced families. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also on standby to clear arterial roads once water levels recede.
As Basyang continues its slow movement through the Sulu Sea, authorities are maintaining a high state of alert, warning that the saturated soil remains highly susceptible to further landslides even as the rains begin to ease.