The Bulacan 566 emergency response office yesterday said thousands of people were evacuated to higher grounds since Saturday as raging floodwaters spawned by Typhoon Ondoy submerged 118 villages in three cities and 17 municipalities in Bulacan province, where 30 persons reportedly perished at the height of the typhoon.

Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO), headed by Rowena Joson and disaster office officials in their reports, said towns of Marilao, Bustos, and Bocaue were hardest hit by the raging chest-deep floods.

Social Welfare development officials, disaster management officials and Bulacan mayors, announced that the province is now under a state of calamity.Governor Joselito Mendoza in an emergency meeting held at the Hiyas Convention Center at the Capitol compound here attended by Vice Governor Willy Sy Alvarado, 1st district Rep Marivic Alvarado,

"Isaayos sana ninyo ang paggamit ng inyong calamity fund dahil hindi pa tayo nakasisiguro sa tunay na kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan na nasalanta, marami pa silang tiyak na kailangan tulad ng iba't-ibang uri ng gamot," Mendoza said.

In the meeting, the Provincial Disaster Management Office (PDMO) reported that two persons drowned and one was electrocuted in Bocaue; three drowned in Meycauayan City; two drowned in Bustos and one drowned in Guiguinto.

Senior Supt. Diosdado Ramos, acting Bulacan police director, identified the fatalities as Roberto Pacao, Eric Portugal, Abet San Pedro, all of Bocaue town; Ramon Denistosa, Fortunato Saturnino, Faustino Policarpio, all of Meycauayan City; Angelica Arajo, 5, and Benjamin Juliano, both of Bustos town and Rodel Casino, of Guiguinto town.

Before noon yesterday, the Bulacan 566 emergency operation center reported that eight persons, four of them children drowned in Marilao town.

A total of 13,576 families composed of 44,178 persons were affected and 4,183 families (18,819 persons) were taken to evacuation centers.

"This is the worst flood to hit the province since October 1978, compounded by the release of water from the overflowing Angat and Ipo dams," Mendoza said.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, water elevation at Angat Dam was recorded at 213.89 meters, which is 1.89 meters above its spilling level of 212 meters.

Relief goods were immediately distributed to affected families at the different places in this province led by the Bulacan governor.