Strong winds and big waves due to the southwest monsoon and enhanced by typhoon Fabian forced 191 families living in coastal barangays in this city to temporarily evacuate on Friday, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) here.
CDRRM officer Donna Magno, in an interview, said the families are currently staying in their barangay evacuation centers or houses of their relatives.
Of the city’s 26 barangays, 10 have reported that they have families affected by the flooding.
Most of the evacuees and those affected by flooding are from Barangays Boulevard, San Juan, Calumpang in Molo District; Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, and Calaparan in Arevalo Bo. Obrero in Lapuz; and Rizal Ibarra, General Hughes, and Ortiz in City Proper.
The CDRRMO also reported that 55 houses were partially damaged and 14 others were wrecked.
The CDRRMO also coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to open their pumping stations to discharge floods at the City Proper.
“Since yesterday they have been encouraged to evacuate,” she said, adding that Barangay DRRM Councils are advised to urge their residents to evacuate since, at the end of the day, they would still be the ones to look after them.
“We can never tell what happens tonight. We cannot endanger our barangay leaders and responders. So it would be better if they already evacuate to a safer place,” she said.
On Saturday, the wind velocity is expected at 45 to 63 kilometers per hour, wave height is expected to reach 2.84 to five meters and coastal waters are to be rough to very rough, she said citing the report of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Amid this pandemic, Magno said they hope that the evacuees will continue to observe the minimum health protocols. “We have to balance this,” she said.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has been validating the reported affected families for the provision of food packs.
Source: Philippines News Agency
