Pepito spares lives as floods, landslides hit Albay, CamSur

Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) is anticipated to hit the Bicol Region over the weekend, prompting locals to take shelter in a mall as early as Friday night, November 15, 2024. (Photo from Barangay Ubaliw / Facebook)

LEGAZPI CITY — Super Typhoon “Pepito” (international name: Man-yi) caused landslides and flooding in parts of Albay and Camarines Sur over the weekend, but officials reported minimal damage and no casualties owing to successful pre-emptive evacuation efforts.

In Polangui town, heavy rains triggered a landslide in Pintor village on Saturday night (November 16) but Mayor Adrian Salceda told residents that road clearing operations were underway.

“Roads are now being cleared, and within the day, they will be passable for all types of vehicles,” Salceda told Inquirer in a phone interview Sunday (November 17).

He said evacuees were already sent home on Sunday morning after receiving relief goods.

Meanwhile, in Tiwi town, landslide occurred in Barangay Dapdap, rendering roads impassable for four-wheeled vehicles.

Mayor Jaime Villanueva said their engineering office was conducting clearing operations to restore normal traffic flow.

In Camarines Sur, spillways in Iriga City overflowed, making them impassable for all types of vehicles, lawyer Maharlika Ramon Oaferina, the city government administrator, told Inquirer in a separate phone interview.

Oaferina said they were monitoring the area closely for safety of residents.

Meanwhile, 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte reported that many residents in Camarines Sur remained in evacuation centers as of Sunday.

Villafuerte commended the public’s cooperation in the pre-emptive evacuation efforts.

“We achieved zero casualties. Thank you for your cooperation during this challenging time,” he said in a Viber message Sunday.