Hundreds of families were evacuated as heavy rains spawned by Tropical Depression “Ofel” triggered flooding in some parts of the Visayas, Southern Tagalog and in the Bicol region, while landslides were also reported in some areas.
The storm, which weather specialists forecasted on Thursday to weaken into a low pressure area until today, continue to veer out of the country through the West Philippine Sea, bringing rains in some parts of Northern Luzon.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesman Mark Timbal said that based on their preliminary data, at least 134 families, or 263 persons, sought shelters in 13 evacuation centers in Lucena City, Quezon; Bauan, Batangas and Los Baños, Laguna.
He said a combination of flooding, landslide and toppled tree also rendered impassable the spillway at Barangay 5 in Lucena City and Hondaqua port road in Lopez, Quezon, and the Tignoan-Mauban road, also in Quezon.
In Region 4B, at least 158 families, or 665 individuals, were also preemptively evacuated in Puerto Galera, Bulalacao, Calapan and Baco, all in Oriental Mindoro, where landslides are also reported in the Municipality of Mogpog, cutting two road sections of the provincial road.
Timbal said they were collating data from all the storm-affected areas although a number of the evacuated families have begun to return to their homes as the weather began to improve.
In Bicol, almost 1, 000 families living in barangays located at the foot of Mayon Volcano, including in the town of Guinobatan, Albay, were preemptively evacuated due to threats of flooding and even mudflow.
Villagers located in flood and landslide-prone areas were also on alert due to expected heavy rains associated with Ofel.
In the Visayas, two people died as waist-deep flood waters swept Cebu on Tuesday night, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that a total of 129 individuals; 56 rolling cargoes; 18 vessels and 12 motor bancas remained stranded as of 8 a.m. on Thursday in various ports in Southern Tagalog.
“The PCG Operations Center is on 24/7 nationwide monitoring to strictly implement guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather and to ensure safety of lives and properties,” it said in a news statement.
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