Heavy rains trigger landslides, class suspensions in Catanduanes

ROAD CLEARING | Continuous rains triggered a landslide at Barangay Puraran in Baras, Catanduanes, on Monday. The roads were cleared but motorists were still warned to take extra precautions while traversing the area. (Photo from the Baras Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — Continuous heavy downpours in the Bicol region caused by a shear line triggered landslides and the suspension of classes in Catanduanes province on Monday and a closer watch on Mt. Mayon in Albay province for possible lahar flow, authorities said.

Roberto Monterola, operations and warning officer of the Emergency Operations Center Catanduanes, said the incessant rains that started since Sunday night have affected the eastern parts of the province.

“There were no evacuees, but clearing operations immediately started in areas with reported landslides. With the continuous moderate to heavy rains, we are expecting possible landslides in other areas,” Monterola said in a phone interview.

Classes at all levels in private and public schools were suspended in the towns of Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Gigmoto, Pandan and San Miguel and in the elementary and secondary levels in Panganiban and Viga towns, according to the Catanduanes Information Office.

In Baras, a major landslide in Barangay Putsan has covered the main roads going to Barangay Danao since 8 a.m. on Monday.

Khalil Tapia, head of the Baras municipal disaster risk reduction and management office, said the clearing operation was halted due to continuous rains and dangerous road conditions.

“The landslide started in the area with an ongoing road opening, and the heavy rains really affected the area, making the ground soft and loose,” Tapia said in a separate phone interview.

The landslide at the boundary of the villages of Puraran and Benticayan, which was monitored at 7:11 a.m., was already cleared, but motorists were advised to take precautions due to slippery roads.

Tapia said they would evacuate around 100 families from three villages in the town center if the heavy rains would cause flooding.

Lahar threat

In Albay, residents near the river channels and lahar flow areas were alerted due to the risks of lahar flow as the shear line, or the convergence of cool and warm winds, was expected to continuously bring heavy rains in the Bicol region this week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“This shear line will bring rains to the region until Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the easterlies (warm winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean) may also affect Bicol,” Melvin Almojuela, weather forecaster at Pagasa Southern Luzon, said by phone.

Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. of Camalig town in Albay said village officials were advised to monitor their areas and alert the residents, especially those near the slopes of the Mayon Volcano.