New Year’s Day rainfall floods Talisay in Negros Occidental

Rescue workers had to wade through almost neck-deep water to reach some residents. (Photo from the Talisay CDRRMC)

MANILA, Philippines — Strong rainfall on New Year’s Day caused a flash flood that submerged Talisay City in Negros Occidental in deep water.

Photos posted on Facebook by the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) showed water levels ranging from wais to neck-deep in some areas early Friday morning.

Several residents near the Catabla River were rescued by officers of the CDRRMO Fire and Rescue unit bewteen 2 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.  All in all, 3,467 families were affected by the flash flood.

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According to the CDRRMO, the heavy rainfall was caused by the tail end of a frontal system affecting Eastern and Central Visayas.

“Executive Assistant/OIC DRRMO Geoffery ‘Spyxe’ Gutierrez who leads  Talisay’s Bravest Rescue Operation said a total of 3,467 families are affected by the sudden rises of water level from Catabla and Minuluan rivers that causes flooding due to the tail-end of frontal system affecting the country,” it added.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of possible flash floods and landslides due to the different weather systems in play — the northeast monsoon, the tail end of a frontal system, and the easterlies now affecting the Visayas and Mindanao.

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