ILIGAN CITY—Christmas merrymaking in Ozamiz City suddenly turned into pandemonium Sunday evening after extra-cautious residents feared nature’s wrath similar to that of Tropical Storm “Sendong” was in the offing from a mix of strong winds, big waves, and a rising tide.
Worries over worsening weather sent hundreds of families from the coastal villages of Malaubang and Tinago evacuating into the Catholic Cathedral a kilometer away around 9 p.m., local broadcaster Neptalie Batolenio of Catholic radio dxDD told the Inquirer by phone.
Soon, residents in other coastal villages left their homes and trooped to the national highway as a precautionary measure. Some others rushed to take refuge in the city’s hotels, preferring to be assigned rooms at higher floor levels.
Noah’s Ark
The cathedral looked like Noah’s Ark as throngs of people seeking solace within it brought along their pets and backyard-grown animals, Batolenio described.
No one was reported hurt in the evacuation frenzy.
“When interviewed, those who evacuated noticed the strong waves and furious wind. They even said they feared for a waterspout,” Batolenio related.
Many also noted the rising tide, bolstering their fears, Batolenio added. “They are anxious about experiencing the tragedy that hit Iligan and Cagayan de Oro so they were extra cautious.”
To allay the peoples’ fears, dxDD opened a special public affairs evening broadcast amid the Christmas holiday to announce the real score of the weather.
Since Sunday afternoon, strong winds along with rain were experienced in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental provinces which are separated by the narrow Panguil Bay.
According to a Dec. 25 advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), a low-pressure area in the Pacific Ocean moving towards General Santos City was to affect the weather in the Visayas and Mindanao until Monday, Dec. 26.
Around 2 a.m. Monday, Pagasa said the low-pressure area was spotted 30 kilometers west-northwest of Butuan City, hence, scattered to widespread rains are expected in the Visayas, Mindanao and southern Palawan.
Both advisories warned against possible flash floods and landslides due to the rains the weather may bring in the affected regions.
The calendar also indicated high-tide of as much as 1.8 meters will be experienced around 11:12 p.m. on Sunday.
Amid the public’s unease, Mayor Nova Princess Echavez announced over dxDD that the city hall was open for those who do not yet feel comfortable going back and spending the night in their homes.
Deep waters
On Dec. 16, a day prior to the tragic floods in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, heavy rains that preluded the landfall of Sendong brought 60 percent of the city under deep waters, the worst it ever experienced.
Since about five years ago, the city’s 12 coastal villages are usually battered by strong waves from December up to February.
By 3 a.m. on Monday, strong winds, big waves and talk of a waterspout wiping out most of Ozamiz City sent thousands of people evacuating to safer grounds in Plaridel town in Misamis Occidental’s northern tip. Ryan D. Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao