Over 4,000 people have been evacuated in Albay and Camarines Sur as heavy rains spawned by Tropical Depression Gener and “habagat” or southwest monsoon inundated villages, the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) said Tuesday.

Aside from the two provinces, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte also reported flooding incidents, the agency said.

In an interview, Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-5 spokesperson, said: “A total of 15 municipalities reported 85 flooding incidents. Our operation division is now coordinating with affected local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs).”

The affected areas are Polangui, Albay; Baao, Bula, Calabanga, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Nabua, Sipocot, San Fernando, and Pamplona in Camarines Sur; Daet, Camarines Norte; and Donsol, Juban, and Magallanes in Sorsogon.

Naz said evacuation started as early as Sunday and to date, a total of 1,017 families or 4,397 persons, are in temporary shelters.

OCD-5 advised local government units susceptible to flooding and landslides to
monitor the situation and implement countermeasures.

Naz also said at least 15 local roads and bridges are affected by floods, 12 of which are not passable to all types of vehicles; two are not passable to light vehicles, and one is passable to light vehicles only.

Meanwhile, a total of PHP1.129 million worth of family food packs and non-food items were provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the affected families.

Source: Philippines News Agency