Another Calapan dike collapses

CALAPAN CITY — At least 4,000 residents in three barangays here were forced to evacuate after a protective dike along the Bucayao River collapsed, causing floodwaters to rampage through their villages early yesterday morning, local officials said.

City administrator Doy Leachon told The STAR that residents of Barangays Bucayao, Biga and Comunal heard a rumbling sound coming from the slopes of Mt. Halcon, which moments later was followed by onrushing water.

He said they sounded the church bells and the city’s sirens to warn the public of the impending disaster.

Last week, this city and the low-lying Oriental Mindoro towns of Pola, Naujan and Victoria were flooded following three days of heavy rains.

In the Batangas port, some 300 passengers were stranded when the Coast Guard banned the travel of cargo and passenger ships below 1,000 gross tonnage.

The Coast Guard made the move due to rough waves spawned by tropical depression "Quedan." — With Jaime Laude