Big waves spawned by the southwest monsoon trapped at least 30 people in Poblacion, Talisay City, injured at least one person and displaced about 150 households.
The southwest monsoon combined witth typhoon Gener (international codename: Saola) and the high tide of a full moon tomorrow has resulted in three to five meter high waves pounding Talisay’s coastal communities.
Pleas to evacuate went unheeded.
Residents in sitio Kalubihan, barangay Poblacion stayed home to guard their possessions yesterday.
Poblacion barangay captain Teodoro Belleza considered calling in the police to effect a forced evacuation yesterday afternoon.
The tide today is expected to reach 1.86 meters by 9:57 a.m. compared to yesterday’s highest at 1.77 meters.
Weathermen forecast that typoon Gener will exit the country this afternoon.
Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez ordered a damage assessment to decide if a declaration of a state of calamity is needed.
Sacks of rice and canned goods were distributed to families in four affected barangays of Biasong, Poblacion, Cansojong, Tanke and San Roque.
Residents tied a rope on a concrete wall that separates the dry land from the shore. The rope served as a lifeline to keep them from falling into the turbulent water.
Since most residents rely on fishing, the thought of moving out, (many of them have lived there for 20 years), is difficult.
“If there is a relocation site for us, why not? I would want a safe home for my children but I hope we also have other means of livelihood,” Maricar Tero said.
Others said all they need is a seawall to protect them from surging waves.
“We need a seawall here. With it, we are already safe,” said Dindo Español.
But even the seawall in adjacent barangay Dumlog was badly damaged by the waves. /Correspondents Carine M. Asutilla, Gabriel C. Bonjoc, Jhunnex Napallacan and chito O. Aragon