The city government of Lapu-Lapu on Thursday evacuated close to 4,000 individuals from 14 low-lying villages in the mainland and the island group, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported.
Nagiel Bañacia, CDRRMO head, said in a statement that 3,987 individuals or about 1,102 families were transferred to public schools for safety as Typhoon Odette was approaching.
These individuals were residents of Olango Island group’s villages, such as Sabang, San Vicente, Sta. Rosa, Talima Kandagsao, Tingo, Caw-oy, Caubian, Baring, and Tungasan, and Punta Engaño, Pajo, and Mactan in the mainland.
Residents of the island villages of Talima and Caw-oy were transferred to the Mini Hoopsdome while those from Sabang were taken either to the nearest public school or the barangay hall.
Evacuees from Barangay Punta Engaño’s coastal area were brought to the sports gymnasium in the area.
Meanwhile, about a hundred women, children, and elderly were evacuated from two sitios (sub-villages) in Cogon, a coastal village in this city that is threatened by flooding, Councilor David Tumulak said.
Rescuers fetched residents of Sitio Tayud and All Seasons whose safety may be threatened by storm surge and brought them to the Don Vicente Rama High School.
“It was the order of Mayor (Michael) Rama to conduct a preemptive evacuation while ‘Odette’ has not yet arrived in our area of responsibility in the city,” Tumulak told reporters in Cebuano.
The city government has been providing the evacuees with food and water, he added.
Meanwhile, Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes placed the entire city under red alert and ordered the mobilization of the Typhoon Emergency Operations Center, along with the local DRRMO, social workers, and police and fire officers.
Cortes urged residents to be ready and do their best to keep their families safe while praying that “Odette” would not leave Metro Cebu in devastation.
Source: Philippines News Agency
