MANILA — Nine straight days of heavy rain have triggered floods, landslides, and other disasters across the northern Philippines, killing at least 16 people. In some areas, the downpour has already dumped the equivalent of a month’s worth of rainfall.

The extreme weather, worsened by a tropical storm, forced schools and government offices to shut down in many parts of Luzon, the country’s main island. Even the capital, Metro Manila, wasn’t spared — streets turned into rivers, stranding commuters and damaging homes.

Baguio City takes the hardest hit

The summer capital of Baguio, known for its cool climate, became the epicenter of the tragedy. Rain-soaked mountainsides gave way, sending mud and debris crashing into three houses. Seven people died in that single incident. Rescue worker Ester Banawe said three others are still missing.

“Search and rescue operations are ongoing, but the heavy rain is forcing us to rely only on manual digging,” Banawe told local media. She added that safety officers are monitoring the site to prevent another collapse.

Record-breaking rainfall

The numbers are staggering. Baguio recorded 1,413.2 millimeters of rain between August 1 and 9 — that’s 47 percent more than the city’s entire normal August average of 963.2 millimeters. Parts of Metro Manila have also already received about 90 percent of their typical monthly total, according to state weather forecaster Dan Villamil.

Other regions also count casualties

Elsewhere in Luzon, landslides claimed six more lives. The death toll also includes one drowning victim, one person crushed by a falling tree, and another who died from electrocution, the civil defense office reported.

Government response: water receding, but deeper issues remain

While heavy rain continued Monday evening, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said floodwaters are gradually receding. But he didn’t mince words about the long-term problem: “Our interventions are ongoing, but we really need to address the backlog of years of wrong flood control measures.” He specifically pointed to a scandal involving fake flood-control projects that have already cost taxpayers billions of pesos.

A nation on the front lines of climate change

The Philippines sits directly in the path of the Pacific typhoon belt, averaging about 20 storms and typhoons each year. That puts millions of people at constant risk. Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting.

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Stay safe, everyone — and if you’re in the affected areas, please follow local evacuation orders.