Signal No. 3 raised over parts of Quezon province, prompting evacuations

LUCENA CITY — Authorities moved out of their homes at least 406 families on the path of Typhoon Tisoy (international name: Kammuri) as parts of Quezon province were placed under Signal No. 3.

Melchor Avenilla Jr., head of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, said the town of General Luna evacuated at least 45 families.

Other towns that sent residents packing for shelters were Guinayangan (42 families), Atimonan (21), Tagkawayan (18), Plaridel (46) and Sariaya (234).

Most evacuees were packed in government-designated shelters while some moved to relatives’ houses.

The provincial government carried out the preemptive evacuation following a series of emergency meetings at the provincial capitol that started since weekend.

Avenila said residents of danger zones were the first to be moved out starting in the evening of Sunday, Dec. 1. The emptied communities sat on coastal areas prone to storm surge and landslides. Some were in mountainous terrain and low lying areas vulnerable to floods and swollen rivers.

The evacuation is continuing in other areas, said Avenila.

Janet Geneblazo, Quezon public information officer, said first responders from the local government had to evacuate residents in six areas tagged as high-risk and would continue to do so “forcibly if necessary.”

The local social welfare office has been distributing food packs to evacuees.

Typhoon Signal No. 3 has been raised in southern part of the province near the Bicol region where Tisoy is predicted to make landfall Monday night.

The rest of Quezon province has been placed under Typhoon Signal No. 2.

Edited by TSB