195 Pampanga barangays still flooded

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — At least 195 villages in 15 Pampanga municipalities remained flooded yesterday, disaster management officials said.

According to the provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC), still flooded were communities in the towns of Sasmuan, Guagua, Masantol, Minalin, Arayat, Mexico, Sta. Ana, Lubao, Sto. Tomas, Floridablanca, Candaba, San Simon and Magalang.

Floodwaters were one to three feet deep, it said.

Flood-stricken families numbered 78,163, 131 of which have sought temporary refuge in evacuation centers.

The PDCC said 12 of the flooded barangays were in Sasmuan, 20 in Guagua, 26 in Masantol, six in Minalin, 10 in Arayat, 15 in Mexico, 14 in Sta. Ana, nine in Lubao, eight in Sto. Tomas, five in Floridablanca, 20 in Candaba, 11 in San Simon, and seven in Magalang.

In Barangay San Agustin, Candaba town, 139 families were forced to evacuate as the floodwaters reached 10 to 15 feet.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has distributed 2,000 sacks for sandbagging operations along the Pampanga River in Candaba town.

The regional disaster coordinating council said 19-year-old Reyner Llagas has remained missing since Tuesday after he was reportedly swept away by strong current while swimming at the foot of the Del Rosario Bridge in Barangay Tabacuan, Olongapo City.