Possible storm surge prompts evacuation in Quezon

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Authorities on Tuesday started evacuating families living in the coastal municipalities of Quezon province amid possible storm surges due to Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun).

Vicente Tomazar, director of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, said a preemptive evacuation was implemented in the towns of Guinayangan, San Narciso, San Andres, Gumaca and Agdangan, all in Quezon.

He, however, could not immediately give the number of evacuees since the evacuation that started around 10 a.m. was “still ongoing” as of past noon, Tuesday.

“These are the areas facing the Pacific (ocean) and we have advised them of possible storm surges that could be as high as three to four meters,” Tomazar in a phone interview said.

The regional DRRMC has “prepositioned” its response teams, as well as medical and food supplies before the typhoon makes a landfall in Albay-Sorsogon area. Tomazar said each city and municipality has also started preparing their respective evacuation centers.

In Rizal, disaster authorities have been keeping watch of flood and landslide-prone areas in San Mateo and Rodriguez towns should the water in the Marikina river begin to rise.

Rizal DRRMC officer Loel Malonzo said they have also been monitoring the water level in the Laguna Lake, which as of Tuesday noon was at a normal level of 11.12 meters.

During typhoon seasons in the past three years, flood has affected at least 200 families in Rodriguez and at least 400 families in San Mateo, Malonzo said.

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