Residents in low-lying areas in Central Luzon asked to evacuate immediately

A boat is the only means of transportation in Gugo, Calumpit in Bulacan after the village was submerged in water due to the rains spawned by Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel”. LYN RILLON/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines – Residents living in low-lying areas and in coastal towns of Bulacan and Pampanga have been ordered to evacuate immediately as floods from Nueva Ecija brought by rains from Typhoon “Quiel” (international codename: Nalgae) could flow into the two provinces a few hours from now, an official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Saturday.

At the same time, NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said that one person has died and another injured in the storm that has affected a large part of Luzon.

Ramos identified the fatality as Sonny Ramos, 35, who died after a passenger van was buried in a landslide along the Hansema Mt. Highway, in Barangay (village) Gonogon, Bontoc, Mt. Province. The injured, Melody Gomez, was taken to the Bontoc General Hospital, the NDRRMC chief said.

Graciano Yumul of Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the land in Luzon was so saturated with water from Typhoon “Pedring” (international codename: Nesat) that it could no longer absorb more, and thus could trigger flashfloods and landslides.

As of Saturday, the NDRRMC said that Luzon lost about P6-billion worth of agriculture and infrastructure from Pedring, which also claimed 52 lives as it left the country Wednesday.

With a report from Kate Evangelista