Adonis Dilao, officer-in-charge of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Masbate, said 414 families (1,527 individuals) from high-risk areas in 11 towns were evacuated to safer grounds.
Dilao said the preemptive evacuation was ordered Thursday afternoon due to the threat of storm surges and floodings.
In Calabanga town in Camarines Sur, 29 families (121 individuals) were also evacuated, Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson of Office of Civil Defense Bicol, said in a report.
Some 859 individuals (233 families) in flood-prone areas in Guinobatan town in Albay province were also evacuated Thursday, but returned home Friday morning, said Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco.
Naz said the 9 a.m. report of the Philippine Coast Guard showed that 2,013 passengers, 676 rolling cargoes, 42 sea vessels, and 12 motor banca were still stranded in seaports in Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Catanduanes provinces.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in an 11 a.m. bulletin, said Odette was at 90 kilometers south-southwest of Cuyo, Palawan, packing a maximum sustained wind of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.
Signal Number 3 was hoisted over the northern portion of Palawan (El Nido,Taytay, Araceli, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands in Luzon; and the southern portion of Iloilo (Tigbauan, Leon, Tubungan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, San Joaquin), the southern portion of Antique (Patnongon, San Remigio, San Jose, Belison, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier and Anini-y), all in Western Visayas.
Under Signal Number 2 were the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bulalacao, Roxas, Bongabong, Mansalay), the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay, Calintaan, Sablayan), the western portion of Romblon (Looc, Ferrol, Santa Fe, San Jose, Alcantara, Santa Maria, Odiongan, San Agustin, San Andres, Calatrava), and the central portion of Palawan (Narra, Sofronio Española, Quezon, Aborlan, Rizal, Brooke’s Point) including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands.
Also Under Signal Number 2 were Aklan, Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, the rest of Antique, Guimaras, the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (Pamplona, City of Tanjay, Santa Catalina, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Valencia, Dauin, Dumaguete City, Bacong, Zamboanguita, Siaton) and Negros Occidental.
Signal Number 1 was hoisted over Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, the southern portion of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, City of Tayabas), the rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Palawan, the rest of Romblon and Batangas;
Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Bohol, Biliran, the western portion of Leyte (Isabel, Calubian, Albuera, Matalom, Tabango, Merida, City of Baybay, Villaba, Kananga, Ormoc City, Carigara, Inopacan, Matag-Ob, Palompon, San Isidro, Hilongos, Jaro, Leyte, Capoocan, Bato, Burauen, Tunga, Hindang), the western portion of Southern Leyte (Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Macrohon, City of Maasin, Limasawa), and Siquijor; and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Baliguian, Gutalac, Kalawit, Labason, Liloy, Tampilisan, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Mutia, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Sibutad, Rizal), and the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Aloran, Oroquieta City, Lopez Jaena, Concepcion, Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Baliangao, Plaridel). INQ
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