Leon forces another evacuation in Albay

INQUIRER FILES

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay provincial government on Tuesday ordered the evacuation of families in high-risk areas due to the threat of Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey).

In an advisory, Acting Gov. Baby Glenda Bongao said the communities exposed to flooding and landslides were advised to remain vigilant and evacuate to designated shelters.

She urged local disaster management officials to implement localized evacuation after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over the eastern portion of Albay, including Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, and Manito.

Also under TCWS No. 1 were Camarines Norte, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Tigaon, Calabanga, Sagñay), Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat).

Bongao also ordered the suspension of in-person classes at all levels in private and public schools and the implementation of alternative learning modalities.

All types of water activities and sailing of sea craft were prohibited.

Pagasa said in the 11 a.m. bulletin that Leon was located some 555 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 130 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of 160 kph. It was moving northwestward at 10 kph.

During the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine on Oct. 22, the towns of Tiwi, Oas, Polangui, Libon, Jovellar, and Polangui, and Ligao City were affected by landslides and flooding.

Thousands of residents were evacuated. Some were still in evacuation centers as of Tuesday morning. INQ