Heavy rains force suspension of classes in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Disaster mitigation officials in Albay were closely monitoring the heavy rains, which forced the suspension of classes from preschool up to high school levels on Wednesday.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, reported the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as saying there was no low pressure area, no tropical depression nor storm but that wind convergence has been causing a lot of rains.

He said people living in low-lying areas need to take extra precautions.

The Culliat-Busay section of the Maharlika Highway in Daraga was severely flooded since Tuesday morning and was still impassable to motorcycles and small cars due to the heavy rains.

Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, said his staff was monitoring the situation on a 24-hour basis and closely coordinating with Pagasa office in Legazpi, especially with regard to the ongoing encampment of Boy Scouts in the municipality of Sto. Domingo.