Albay prepares for flood, lahar flows, landslides as LPA dumps rains over Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY –– Disaster councils in Albay were activated on Tuesday as the province braced for possible flooding and lahar flows in low-lying areas and landslides in mountain slopes, due to a low-pressure area (LPA) spotted some 375 km east of this city.

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara issued a provincial disaster advisory on Tuesday directing all 15 towns and three city disaster councils to be on high alert as the LPA brings moderate to heavy rains.

Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO), said in an interview that the cold front and the northeast monsoon is bringing moderate to heavy rains. Once it breaks the rainfall threshold, it would cause floods, lahar, and landslides.

Daep said the wind and coastal condition would also trigger moderate to the strong northeast wind, producing a moderate to rough (1.2 to 4 meters high) coastal water rise endangering small sea crafts.

A no-sailing policy has been raised due to the rough seas prevailing at the eastern flank of the province, while village disaster authorities were directed not to allow fishermen to sail and go out to fish.

Residents living in coastal villages in the eastern seaboard were warned of possible strong waves to hit the coastal shores.

Local disaster councils were alerted to activate their disaster mitigating measures and initiate preemptive evacuation once the weather conditions worsen.

LZB