2 dead, 13 villages evacuated in Bicol due to bad weather

MANILA, Philippines—The heavy downpour brought by an active low pressure area in the country has left two dead and triggered the evacuation of residents from 13 villages in Bicol, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.

The NDRMMC identified the fatalities as Lea Alarcio, 18, and Agripina Minante, 81, from Camarines Sur. Both died from drowning.

Meanwhile, residents from 13 barangays in municipalities of Libon, Polangui and Jovellar in Albay were evacuated due to floods, the report added.

Two landslides were also reported in the villages of of Busal and Pulang Bato in Cebu City but no evacuees and casualties were recorded.

Residential houses in barangays Tabuc Tubig, Batigue, Canduay, Cadawinowan, Balugo in Dumaguete City and barangay Poblacion in municipality of Amlam were also “washed out” due to heavy rains, the NDRRMC said.

In Central Mindanao, residents were evacuated in barangays Baluan, Bula, Lagao, Katangwan in General Santos and barangay Kawas, Alabel in Saranggani Province, it added.

The Office of Civil Defense in Region V (Bicol) has reported an estimated P8 million worth of production loss due to the heavy rains.