‘Emong’ dumps rains, causes floods in 2 cities

The low pressure area east of Surigao developed into a tropical depression  yesterday dumping heavy rains and causing floods in Cebu and Mandaue cities.

The center of tropical depression  Emong as of 5 p.m. yesterday was 370 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, said  Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Boy Artiaga, weather observer 4 of  Pagasa Mactan, said they recorded 52 mm of rainfall starting past 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the floods along Kaohsiung and A. Soriano Streets  in Cebu City near SM Cebu  after the Mahiga River overflowed causing a traffic jam in the area

“There should be clearing  and  maintenance in order to maintain the rivers from preventing overflow and flooding,” said Alvin Santillan, chief of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC).

Emong was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/hour near the center and was moving north northwest at 9 km/ hour, Pagasa said.

According to Pagasa, Emong will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao./Correspondents Christine Pantaleon and Michelle Padayhag with Inquirer report