It was Friday, August 28, 2026, in Barangay Santo Cristo, Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines, and the river was already carrying everything away. Hours earlier, logs, branches, and other debris had blocked part of the dam, diverting the flow of water and damaging the riverbank protection. At 2:30 in the afternoon, Rockwell Piñgul De Leon recorded from the riverbank the moment a house completely collapsed and then shared the footage.
Mayor Esmerelda Pineda explained that the disaster was not solely the result of rain. For his part, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged that a flood-control project in the area had remained unfinished for six to seven years. Six houses were swept away and 107 people from 30 families had to be relocated, while the authorities prohibited people from returning to the affected area due to the danger.
Watch the video here: