PANTABANGAN, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 28: Remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. Due to a severe drought in the Philippines, a centuries-old settlem...PANTABANGAN, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 28: Remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. Due to a severe drought in the Philippines, a centuries-old settlement submerged since the 1970s has reemerged, attracting tourists despite the extreme heat. This event marks the sixth appearance of the nearly 300-year-old ruins of old Pantabangan town, including parts of a church and tombstones, since the construction of a dam for irrigation and hydro-power. The reservoir's water level has dropped nearly 50 meters below normal as the country faces extreme heat exacerbated by El Niño conditions, leading to official drought declarations in about half of the country's provinces. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)MORE LESS
In the 1970s, the construction of a dam in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines, submerged the town of Pantabangan. In recent weeks drought conditions have depleted water levels in the dammed reservoir, revealing the submerged town and drawing visitors who battle the heat to see the ruins. This marks the sixth time the nearly 300-year-old town has made an appearance since its disappearance in the 1970s.
Arial view of sunken town
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. Due to a severe drought in the Philippines, a centuries-old settlement submerged since the 1970s has reemerged, attracting tourists despite the extreme heat. This event marks the sixth appearance of the nearly 300-year-old ruins of old Pantabangan town, including parts of a church and tombstones, since the construction of a dam for irrigation and hydro-power. The reservoir’s water level has dropped nearly 50 meters below normal as the country faces extreme heat exacerbated by El Niño conditions, leading to official drought declarations in about half of the country’s provinces. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Ruins revealed as Pantabangan dries out
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Clear outlines of structures revealed by receding water
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Arial view of the cemetery of Pantabangan
An aerial view of the cemetery of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Arial view of church ruins
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Tombstones from the cemetery in sunken town
Tombstones in the cemetery of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Arial view of cemetery
An aerial view of the cemetery of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Tourists are drawn to the ruins
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Remnanats of Pantabangan’s church
An aerial view of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
The cross from the ruins of the church still stands
Remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Ruins largely hidden since the 1970s dry out in drought
A dead fish is seen amid remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
People visit the ruins despite extreme heat
People visit the remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Some structures are still partially standing in the submerged town
Remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Tombstones revealed by receding waters
Tombstones in the cemetery of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Tourists explore the remains of the old town of Pantabangan
People visit the remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Collapsed structures in old sunken town appear for the sixth time since the 1970s
Remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan are seen on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Ruins of Pantabangan, submerged since the 1970s, reemerges during Philipines drought
People visit the remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Tourists explore the remains of the old town of Pantabangan
People visit the remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Visitors take photos of the rarely seen town of Pantabangan
People visit the remnants of the old sunken town of Pantabangan on April 28, 2024 in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Christine Frapech
is TPM's designer and event planner based in New York.
