Thousands displaced by rains

MANILA, Philippines - More than 4,000 persons have been displaced by heavy rains and floods.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said a majority of the affected residents are from Bicol. Floods hit about 4,000 people or 800 families in seven barangays in Bombon, Camarines Sur, the NDRRMC added.

Heavy rains affected 200 people or 40 families in the municipality of Camaligan.

The local government did not order an evacuation as the floodwaters were only knee deep.

Flashfloods also displaced 12 families or 50 people in Alabat, Quezon.

The affected residents were evacuated to the barangay hall of Poblacion I and allowed to return home yesterday afternoon.

In Antipolo, a landslide affected three families in barangays Mayamot and Bagong Nayon at 2:30 a.m. Monday. The affected residents chose to seek refuge in the houses of relatives.

In La Trinidad, Benguet, a rockslide occurred at 3:45 p.m. last Tuesday.

Two junkshop workers were rescued after they were buried in mud by heavy rain.

In Davao Oriental, close to 100 people were evacuated to safer ground after flashfloods hit four barangays in Banaybanay at around 6 a.m. yesterday.

Col. Leopoldo Imbang, Jr., Army 28th Infantry Battalion commander, said the affected areas were Purok San Isidro in Barangay Panikian, Sitio Pongotan in Barangay Kanipaan, Sitio Niyogan in Barangay Piso, and Purok Uno in Barangay Cabangcalan.

Joint rescue teams from the police and volunteer groups immediately extended assistance to residents as floodwaters inundated their homes, he added.

Imbang said the residents were taken to various evacuation centers in Banaybanay.

The floods were due to incessant rains, he added.

Troops from the Army’s 10th division rescued 31 people in Barangay Panikian; four in Barangay Piso; and 10 people in Barangay Cabangcalan.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, a low-pressure area was spotted 250 kilometers northwest of Iba, Zambales.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continued to warn the public of possible flashfloods and landslides as the low-pressure area would bring rains today.

“The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the western section of Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said cloudy skies with light rains will prevail over Metro Manila today.

The weather system was not expected to intensify into a tropical storm while moving away from the country, he added.

Servando said no other disturbance will affect the country in the next five days.

“Residents living in low-lying areas and along mountain slopes are advised to be on alert for possible occurrence of flashfloods and landslides,” he said.

At La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, the water level remained under red alert at 79.74 meters yesterday.

Teddy Angeles, La Mesa Dam manager, said continuous monitoring showed the water level at 79.76 meters since 6 a.m.

At 3:30 p.m., the level went down to 79.74 meters, he added.

“We immediately recommend for nearby residents to evacuate their homes though the local officials, specifically barangay officials, would be the better ones to assess the situation in their respective areas,” he said.

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