LUCENA CITY – Authorities in Quezon province have been conducting pre-emptive evacuation of residents as Tropical Storm “Quinta” (international name: Molave) intensified.
Melchor Avenilla Jr., head of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, said his local counterparts in different municipalities in the province’s 3rd and 4th districts have started the early evacuation of residents living in areas prone to storm surge, landslides, and floods since Sunday morning.
“The evacuation centers have already been prepared to accommodate the throngs of evacuees and ensure their safety,” Avenilla said in a phone interview.
Avenilla said his office has yet to receive reports on the number of evacuees.
Earlier, Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez has ordered all mayors and disaster risk reduction management offices to prepare for storm Quinta.
Suarez also tasked all concerned local officials and offices to carry out necessary protocols under the “Operation Listo” of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“The provincial government has already prepared food packs and emergency medicines. Rescue boats and rescuers are on standby for quick dispatch,” Avenilla said.
Tropical Depression “Pepito” had forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 of residents in Lopez and Calauag towns on Wednesday due to flash floods caused by heavy rains compounded by seawater surge induced by high tide.
The floods stalled about 4,500 motorists aboard 1,500 vehicles for two days on the side of the Maharlika highway.
Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala has also ordered the city disaster risk reduction management office to conduct pre-emptive evacuation of residents along the Iyam and Dumacaa rivers and Tayabas Bay coastline.
“All concerned offices and manpower have already been activated,” Alcala said over the phone.
On October 8 and 9, heavy rains triggered the twin rivers to overflow and caused two successive flash floods that resulted in the evacuation of more than 500 families living along the side of the rivers.
The riverbanks were inundated with mud and water, which cascaded from Mt. Banahaw where the rivers originate.
In its 8 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Quinta was last spotted at 265 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.
The storm is expected to hit the Calabarzon region and Metro Manila early Monday.
Meanwhile, disaster responders in Mindoro province are also on alert for possible evacuations as Quinta moves closer to landmass Sunday.
Calapan Public Safety Department (PSD) have reported undetermined number of stranded vehicles in Calapan City port after vessel trips to Batangas port had been cancelled since tropical cyclone signal no. 2 was raised over Oriental Mindoro at 8 a.m. by the state weather bureau.
The Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office in Occidental Mindoro also announced cancellation of vessel trips from Abra de Ilog town to Batangas port.