‘Ramon’ forces 2,000 villagers in 2 Bicol provinces to flee homes

LEGAZPI CITY — Landslides and flooding unleashed by Typhoon “Ramon” forced out of their homes more than 2,000 villagers in low-lying and mountainous areas in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said.

The villagers took shelter in evacuation sites as Ramon lashed at areas on its path.

The OCD said floods swamped 19 villages in in the towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Pasacao, Del Gallego, Canaman, Calabanga, Tinambac, Lagonoy Magarao and Sipocot, all in Camarines Sur, and in Tiwi, Albay.

Claudio Yucot, OCD regional director, said ankle to knee deep waters were reported in these areas while water level in river channels rose by up to 1.5 meters.

Landslides were reported in the villages of Sta. Rosa del Norte in Pasacao town and Mananao in Tinambac town, Camarines Sur.

Power was cut in the towns of Del Gallego, Lupi, Caramoan and Presentacion, all in Camarines Sur.

At least 2,577 passengers and 757 trucks, buses and cars were grounded in the ports of three provinces—Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Sur.

Three flights at the Legazpi City airport were also cancelled. Mar S. Arguelles

Edited by TSB