Heavy rain floods villages in 4 Albay towns

ALBAY, Philippines — Low-lying villages in four Albay towns were flooded as Tropical Depression “Usman” dumped heavy rain on Saturday.

“Usman” was later downgraded to a low pressure area the state weather agency.

“There are nine villages that were flooded and 40 families were evacuated,” said Das Maronilla, mayor of Libon town.

Maronilla said the destruction of a protection dike in Barangay West Carisac caused the flooding.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection and Albay Engineering Office helped rescue the affected families using rubber boats and a 10 wheeler truck.

In Oas town, Mayor Domingo Escoto Jr. said heavy rain washed out a 15-meter bridge in Calaguimit village. No persons were reported hurt in the incident, Escoto said.

In Guinobatan town, Mayor Ann Genna Ongjoco said mud from the slopes of Mayon Volcano blocked roads, making it impassable to vehicular traffic.

There were 862 families evacuated for fear of possible lahar flow and landslide as they were situated within Mayon Volcano’s six-kilometer danger zone.

Meanwhile in Polangui town,  31 families were evacuated due to flooding said Mayor Cherilie Mella-Sampal. /muf