Heavy rains trigger floods, evacuation in Bayawan City

CEBU, Philippines - Pre-emptive evacuation of an undetermined number of families living along the river bank in Bayawan City was implemented by the local government Wednesday afternoon, after continuous downpour for hours since Tuesday caused flooding in some parts of the city and overflowing of the Nangka River.

Adrian Sedillo, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said his office were still waiting for further reports from the Bayawan City DRRMO, while city officials were monitoring the rising waters in their area.

Meanwhile, the PDRRMC and the Dumaguete City DRRMO were on standby alert for possible flooding due to continuous rains Wednesday.

The Dumaguete City Disaster Office/Rescue 348 in an advisory said all barangays vulnerable to flooding in the Banica River and Ocoy River were asked to go on a 24-hour critical alert monitoring for floods and flashfloods due to intermittent light to heavy rains in the next three days (Wednesday to Friday).

Rescue 348 Operations Center was on alert since Monday morning and will continue through today for emergency calls and assistance, said Jose Chu, head of the Dumaguete DRRMO.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, for his part, advised through the PDRRMC residents living in coastal areas to take precautionary measures for possible big waves generated by strong winds and high tides in the early morning of Thursday and onwards, said Sedillo.

Fishing boats and small sea crafts were advised not to venture out to sea at this time.  (FREEMAN)