Landslide, floods hit Albay towns

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Low-lying areas in this city and three towns in Albay were flooded while the national highway along Barangay (village) Sogod in Tiwi town was rendered impassable by a landslide on Sunday amid incessant rain in the Bicol region since Saturday.

Reports reaching the Albay provincial disaster risk and reduction management council (PDRRMC) said flooding was reported in the low-lying villages of Busay in Daraga, Masarawag in Guinobatan, Ilaod and Sugcad in Polangui, and Maoyod and Tula-Tula in this city, according to Governor Joey Salceda, PDRRMC chairman.

A still undetermined number of families in the flooded villages in Polangui have been evacuated to Sugcad Elementary School, said Mayor Cherrie Sampal.

Television reporter Jocelyn Pamor of ABC 5 suffered multiple abrasions when she attempted to cross a swollen river near the Casgawa ruins, located at the foot of Mount Mayon, while covering the Cagsawa Festival in Daraga town. Pamor and at least 10 members of the ABC 5 crew were now sheltered at the Cagsawa Ruins Museum compound, according to report reaching the PDRRMC.

Impassable

The landslide that hit Sogod rendered impassable the section of the national highway that linked Albay to the Partido area in Camarines Sur, Salceda said.

He said he has placed the whole of Albay on an alert status since early Sunday following a bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa) that Bicol would be affected by the low pressure area (LPA) spotted in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Residents have also been advised against crossing rivers while military trucks have been placed on standby in case the weather condition worsened, Salceda added.

Jun Dalida, Pagasa director for Southern Luzon, said on Sunday that the widespread cloudiness and moderate to heavy rains due to the LPA would affect the Bicol region.

Dalida advised all the local disaster councils to be on alert.