Parts of Visayas feel ‘Ompong’ rains

RUNNING FOR LIFE Typhoon “Ompong” brought inconvenience to residents of some parts of the Visayas but had more serious repercussions for people in areas on its direct path, like this group carrying a sick child from an ambulance stuck in the middle of a highway blocked by fallen electric posts in Baggao, Cagayan province. —AFP

ILOILO CITY — Heavy rains and strong winds triggered landslides and prompted the evacuation of dozens of residents in some parts of Visayas, even if these were not on the direct path of Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut).

At least 191 families, or 682 persons, in the provinces of Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental evacuated, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas.

No one was reported hurt, although landslides blocked roads in some areas of the three provinces.

In Bago City, Negros Occidental, a house was destroyed after a tree was uprooted and fell on the structure in the village of Mailum, while strong winds damaged another in the village of Caridad in the same city.

Rescued

Three fishermen, who ventured to sea during the typhoon, were rescued off the village of Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental province.

In Bohol, the municipal government of Candijay town on Friday ordered the preemptive evacuation of all residents in a community in Panadtaran, a landslide prone village, due to Ompong.

Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, local disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the move was part of the local government’s precautionary measures.

At least 27 individuals, including babies, were evacuated and took shelter at Panadtaran Elementary School.

Stranded

More than 1,560 passengers were stranded on Saturday in ports in Western Visayas and Northern Samar after the Coast Guard suspended sea travel.

These included 490 passengers in Iloilo City, 151 passengers at the Dumangas port in Iloilo and 19 passengers at the port of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.

Trips resumed on Sunday morning, according to a report by officials.

At least 1,008 passengers bound for Luzon and Metro Manila could not leave the two ports in Northern Samar, said Rei Josiah  Echano, provincial disaster risk reduction management officer.

Of these, 299 were stranded in Allen town.

At least 189 passengers were at the port in San Isidro town, Northern Samar.