Over 5,000 families flee homes as ‘Quinta’ pummels Quezon

LUCENA CITY – An estimated 5,825 families in Quezon were evacuated to temporary shelters on Sunday and early Monday as Typhoon “Quinta” (international name: Molave) brought howling winds and poured heavy rains in the province.

Ma. Janet Geneblazo, Quezon public information officer, in an initial report said that 21,125 residents were moved during pre-emptive evacuations Sunday from 26 towns, Tayabas City, and Lucena City.

Some of the evacuees were forced to flee their homes as the storm hit the province early Monday.

Geneblazo said the evacuated residents composed of 21,185 individuals from 235 barangays were brought to 294 evacuations centers, mostly school buildings, covered basketball courts and barangay offices.

The refugees were being attended to by local social workers and health authorities to ensure that health and safety protocols were being followed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Other evacuees opted to stay with their relatives and friends on safer grounds to avoid possible infection of coronavirus inside the crowded shelter houses.

Most of the evacuated residents were from areas prone to landslides, flash floods, storm surge, and other identified dangerous areas.

The PIO reported no casualties during the height of storm Quinta.

Both the city and provincial government units announced the suspension of government offices and modular and online classes in public and private and public school at all levels Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is still hoisted over the central and southern portions of Quezon while the rest of the province is placed under TCWS No. 2.

JE