Floods, landslides hit Bicol provinces

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Continuous moderate to heavy rains spawned by the tail-end of a frontal system in the past 24 hours triggered landslides and flooding in Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported yesterday.

Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-Bicol spokesman, said 30 families in Barangay Bongalon in Sangay, Camarines Sur and 35 people in Bulusan, Sorsogon evacuated their homes.

Naz said several other barangays in Bulusan and Casiguran, Matnog and Bulan in Sorsogon were submerged in floodwaters.

The OCD said several areas in Buhi, Camarines Sur were inundated.

Eleven landslides were reported in five towns and a city in the three provinces.

“We are still waiting for more reports, particularly those coming from Albay and Masbate, where orange to red rainfall warnings were raised,” Naz told The STAR.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said floods were also reported in Naujuan and Baco in Oriental Mindoro and Balanacan Port in Marinduque.

The NDRRMC said several areas in Tuguegarao City, Ballesteros, Solana and Rizal in Cagayan were flooded anew due to continuous rains.

At least 357 families affected by massive flooding in Cagayan in November remain in evacuation centers.

Thousands displaced in Negros

In Negros Occidental, around 6,000 people were affected by flashfloods in three cities yesterday.

Silay City Mayor Mark Golez reported that 123 families in Barangays 1, 2, 3 and Mambulac evacuated from their homes.

More than 420 families or 1,508 people in 12 barangays in Victorias City were also forced to transfer to higher ground.

A total of  3,467 families in seven barangays in Talisay City are staying in evacuation centers, according to the city disaster risk reduction and management office.— Gilbert Bayoran, Romina Cabrera