154 families in 7 Pampanga towns evacuated due to flood

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – Some 154 families in seven towns in Pampanga province were evacuated due to flooding brought by the continuing southwest monsoon rains, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) disclosed on Sunday.

In its latest situation report, the PDRRMO said the evacuated families were composed of 511 individuals who were brought to chapels, daycare and health centers, schools, and other temporary evacuation sites.

Those who were evacuated to safer grounds include 13 families from Guagua town, 32 from Lubao, seven from Porac, 48 from Sasmuan, 13 from Macabebe, 40 from Masantol, and a family of three in Minalin.

The persistent rains caused a riverbank to erode in Apalit town which is being monitored by the PDRRMC and the municipal government.

A portion of the Sapang Balen Creek’s riverbank in Barangay Sta. Rita, Magalang town also eroded. Village officials and residents have conducted sandbagging activities in the area.

PDRRMO officer Angelina Blanco said the emergency operations center and the command and control center have been monitoring the situation in the province. She said personnel and disaster response equipment are ready to respond to any eventuality.