MANILA, Philippines — Heavy rains spawned by the tail-end of a cold front and northeast monsoon have caused massive flooding in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Negros Occidental since Thursday.
Classes were suspended in the entire province of Camarines Sur yesterday, with many barangays submerged in floodwaters.
Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense-Bicol director, said San Roque, San Isidro, San Antonio, San Jose and Sto. Domingo in Bombon; San Roque, Himagtocon, Sta. Maria, Burabod, Binanuahan, Loho, Gubat and East Coastal in Lagonoy; San Francisco and Tarosanan in Camaligan, and Sta. Lucia, San Juan, San Isidro, Monserrat and Sto. Tomas in Magarao were among the flooded barangays.
Yucot said floods also destroyed ricefields and rendered some roads impassable.
Floodwater in Barangays Del Rosario, Flordeliz, Balagbag, Lipot, Tarusanan, Alimbuyog, San Miguel, Dalipay, San Roque and Borongborongan in Milaor was waist-deep. Parts of Pamplona, Lupi, Pasacao, Goa, Tinambac, Buhi, Garchitorena, Siruma and Del Gallego were also inundated.
Power was cut in Garchitorena town and Barangay Bikal in Libmanan.
Heavy downpour submerged and triggered landslides in several barangays in Viga and Bagamanoc in Catanduanes.
In Negros Occidental, Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca said 3,000 families were affected by flooding in 17 barangays.
Palanca ordered the suspension of classes in the city.
He said the city council is eyeing the declaration of a state of calamity due to the damage caused by the flooding.
At least 142 families were affected by flooding in five barangays in Talisay.
A landslide was reported in Barangay Guimbalaon.