Bicol braces for floods, landslides as LPA brings rains

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay—Various disaster councils across Bicol were placed on heightened alert on Saturday as the Low Pressure Area in the vicinity of Coron Island in Palawan province brought moderate rains that could trigger flash floods, mudflows and landslides to low-lying areas and mountain slopes in the region.

 
Blanche Gobenciong, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director and concurrent Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chair, issued an advisory to all Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to ready disaster pre-emptive measures for the effects of the weather disturbance to the communities here.

The issuance of a weather alert status was prompted by the weather bulletin given by the local weather bureau stating that the 12-hour rainfall to occur on Saturday would bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms that would produce floods, mudflows, and landslides affecting low-lying areas specifically major river channels and tributaries including mountain slopes.

River channels likely to be affected include: Cabuyan, Bato and Pajo rivers in Catanduanes; Labo, Daet and Basud rivers in Camarines Norte; Lower Kilbay, Catabangan, Ragay, Tinalmud, Tamban and Lagonoy rivers in Camarines Sur; Lower Donsol, Ogod, Putiao, Cadacan, Banuang-Duan, Fabrica and Matnog rivers in Sorsogon; Lanang, Mapayawan, Mandaoang, Asid, Malbag, Guiom, Nainday, Daraga, Nauco and Baleno rivers in Masbate; and Quenali and upper Donsol river in Albay.

The advisory warned residents living in low-lying areas to take precautionary measures against possible swelling of rivers and occurrence of landslides in mountain slopes. Residents were also advised to evacuate immediately as an emergency response action once the situation worsens.