Over 17,000 individuals evacuated due to Kristine in Albay

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine

EVACUATED. A police officer monitors the situation of evacuees in Oas town, Albay province. The Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) reported on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024) that 17,095 individuals or 4,948 families from several towns and cities in the province were in evacuation centers as Tropical Storm Kristine’s heavy rainfall has caused floodings. (Photo courtesy of Oas MPS)

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) reported that 17,095 individuals, or 4,948 families from several towns and cities in the province, moved to evacuation centers as Tropical Storm Kristine’s heavy rainfall caused floodings.

In an interview on Wednesday, Apsemo acting chief Dante Baclao said the number of evacuated persons was expected to increase as reports from local government disaster response units are consolidated.

“Unprecedented po ung pagbuhos ng ulan. Mostly, ang mga ilog ay umapaw. Ang pag ulan na ito ay record-breaking, attalagang napaka-tindi (The downpour is unprecedented. Mostly the rivers have overflowed. This rain is record-breaking, really very intense),” he said.

Baclao said disaster response units from the province and other agencies are working hard to reach some flooded areas.

“We have received requests in the 3rd District area, in Libon, Polangui, Oas, and as far as Pio Duran, but we were prevented [from going there] because of the high level of flood waters. So now our rescue teams are back in rescue operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 Director Andre Dizon said they would request search-and-rescue (SAR) equipment from neighboring regions and the central office to augment the ongoing operations in the area.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Kristine was 310 km east of Baler, Aurora, at 8 a.m.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon).

The rest of Sorsogon and Masbate, including Ticao and the Burias Islands, are under TCWS No. 1. (PNA)

READ: Albay orders evacuation of residents in lahar-prone, high-risk areas 

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan