By: Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City —Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte ordered pre-emptive evacuation in Iriga City and three municipalities in District 5 following flooding occurrence and rising water due to heavy rains brought by Southwest Monsoon here.
Villafuerte issued a directive to the barangay disaster risk reduction management council to municipal and city disaster officials to enforce pre-emptive evacuation.
“You are directed to conduct preemptive evacuation of all families living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas,” Villafuerte said.
He directed disaster officials to observe protocols during the evacuation such as to ensure that transport vehicle used during evacuation will not exceed the maximum number of passengers per vehicle observing standard health protocols; ensure that the evacuees are wearing facemasks and face shields; COVID-19 facilities should not be utilized as evacuation centers; and ensure availability of rooms to be utilized by evacuees with above 37.5°C body temperature.
Volcanic materials tumbled down in Guinobatan town triggered by heavy downpour brought by Tropical Depression Ester that caused heavy flooding in several municipalities of Camarines Sur and Albay on Saturday here.
In Guinobatan town, a volcanic material remobilized along the road of Masarawag Village on Saturday morning following the heavy rainfall brought by weather disturbance.
The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol reported that while there is no Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) in Bicol, there were reported flash floods in some parts of the region that rendered several roads impassable to the motorists.
Claudio Yucot, OCD Bicol director, said that flooding was reported in six municipalities affecting Nabua, Baao and Buhi in the province of Camarines Sur and Guinobatan, in the province of Albay.
Yucot said that five local roads in the municipalities of Nabua, Baao and Buhi in Camarines Sur were reported not passable as of 11:00 am due to flooding.
Following heavy rains that causes heavy flooding, Camarines Sur governor Luigi Villafuerte, issued a memorandum to evacuate residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas; Provide early warnings to communities in hazard-prone areas to prevent any untoward incidents; terminate the conduct of the multi-hazard simulation exercise in Buhi; monitor flood incidents and bodies of water in respective area of jurisdiction and send an incident report to EDMERO Emergency Operations Center thus continue monitoring for PAGASA weather updates.
Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains is affecting Camarines Sur due to the Southwest Monsoon.
Villafuerte said that Iriga City and three municipalities in District 5 reported flooding incidents and water level rise.
The disaster officials in Iriga City also reported that the spillway between Barangay (village) San Jose and Sagrada village and the Waras Bridge were not passable.
In Nabua town, the swollen Waras River also rendered Sta. Elena Baras spillway impassable to all types of vehicles.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its advisory at 4:15 a.m., it said that moderate to heavy rainfall with lightning and strong winds were experienced in towns of Baleno, Milagros and San Pascual in Masbate; towns of Bula, Baao and Nabua in Camarines Sur; Ligao City, Oas and Pio Duran in Albay; Catanduanes island province and Northern Samar.
At 8 a.m., Pagasa also warned of light to moderate rains triggered by southwest monsoon in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes in the Bicol region; and in Northern Samar, Romblon and Marinduque.
While the OCD Bicol also reported that at 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression “ESTER” was estimated based on all available data at 790 km East of Itbayat, Batanes (21.6°N, 129.4°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
It is moving North Northwestward slowly. Southwest Monsoon affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas.