3,600 Albay families evacuated due to 'Bebeng'

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – At least 3,622 families or 19,079 people in Albay have been evacuated since Saturday afternoon while rescuers have begun clearing the debris along a landslide-hit stretch of the national road in Libon town, Gov. Joey Salceda said yesterday.

Strong winds and heavy rains continued to hit many areas of Albay as tropical storm “Bebeng” made landfall in the northern tip of the island-province of Catanduanes facing the Pacific Ocean.

Salceda said he has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to deploy a backhoe for road clearing so relief personnel can go to the affected areas.

Salceda said water-purifying equipment have been brought to Polangui town while five M-35 trucks from the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade have been fielded to rescue villagers in the flooded towns of Libon, Oas, Polangui and Pio Duran and Ligao City.

Cedric Daep, head of the provincial security and emergency management office, identified the flooded barangays in Libon town as Sta. Cruz, San Agustin, West and East Carisac, Zone 4 in Paklas, Bulusan, Quigasang, Burabod, San Isidro and Bonbon.

A water tank lorry and rubber boats were also dispatched to the province’s third district.

Salceda said 392 villagers were evacuated in Barangay Mataas, 442 in Mapulang Daga and 16,427 on Cagraray Island, all in Bacacay town; 1,002 in Malobago; 816 in Manito town; 1,841 in Barangay Tula-tula; and 562 in this city.

Many areas in the province still had no electricity as of press time.