Thursday, February 3, 2011

Rains force evacuation of 62,000 families in 10 provinces

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of families have been affected by rains brought about by the low pressure area prevailing over Regions 8, 10, CARAGA and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, the national disaster council said Thursday.

In its latest report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that at least 62,302 families or 309,779 persons have been displaced in 429 villages in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Sulu and the Dinagat Island.

Seven coastal villages in Sulu are still experiencing storm surges and strong winds, the NDRRMC said.

Likewise, heavy rains also triggered flashflood in Hijo River in Purok 2, Barangay Panibasan, Maco, Compostela, the disaster council reported.

Four persons have also been reported dead in separate incidents of drowning. The NDRRMC identified the fatalities as: Christopher Laraga, 20, and Alger Jorge Boholano, 42, both from Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; one child from Maco Compostela Valley who died after crossing the Hijo River. One unidentified victim from Tubay, Agusan del Norte remains unidentified but had also died of drowning, the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area was seen 140 kilometers south of Zamboanga City as of 11 a.m., Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

“This weather system is expected to bring scattered to widespread rains over Zamboanga provinces particularly the western sections which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” the state-run weather bureau said.

The low pressure area entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday and brought widespread rains over Visayas and Mindanao and triggered flash floods and landslides in some provinces. (report from Katherine Evangelista, Inquirer.net)