Batangas still on blue alert as residents evacuate

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine

 

BATANGAS – The province of Batangas remained under blue alert on Wednesday even as residents have been pre-emptively evacuated due to Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

The blue alert status is raised when the rainfall is between 15 to 30 millimeters in an hour and expected to continue in the next two hours, and if there is threatened flooding.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Amor Banuelos-Calayan told the Philippine News Agency that they are “continuously monitoring all flood and landslide-prone areas, including stranded passengers in the pier.”

In the brief situation report, she shared that 159 passengers were still stranded inside the Port of Batangas while 80 families from Calatagan and Tingloy towns have evacuated.

Calayan added food and non-food as well as logistics assistance have been started to be distributed to those in need, particularly the stranded passengers.

They continuously monitor 740 barangays in 24 municipalities that may be affected by flooding, she said.

Calayan said some barangays in Lobo, Taysan, Cuenca, and San Luis towns have yet to have their power supply restored.

Meanwhile, the PDRRMO has coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Provincial Engineering Office (PGO), and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to address the possible effects of the typhoon.

For his part, acting Governor Mark Leviste is reminding the locals in low-lying areas, flood-prone areas, and those that are susceptible to landslides to be vigilant as it rains continuously.

“Even though we are not in the center of the typhoon, our weather experts say, sometimes the tailend of the typhoon is stronger so we should prepare really well,” he said. 

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan