TROPICAL Storm Quinta brought heavy to moderate rains even before it could make a landfall, triggering flooding and landslides in two provinces in the Visayas and forcing the preemptive evacuation of families in the Bicol region and Southern Tagalog.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesman Mark Timbal quoted Region 8 officials as reporting that flooding and landslides hit roads and bridges in Naval, Biliran, and in Calbayog and Catbalogan Cities, both in Samar.
The two airports in Calbayog and in Catarman, Northern Samar, were also not operating while at least 668 passengers, 276 rolling cargo and nine vessels were stranded at various ports in the Visayas, including at the seaport in Allen, Northern Samar.
Timbal said maintenance personnel from local and national government agencies are also working to repair and clear the affected roads and bridges.
Despite the weather condition in Region 8, the NDRRMC has yet to report any evacuation.
In Southern Tagalog, all sea voyage in the region, including those coming from the busy Batangas Port, have been canceled by the Philippine Coast Guard due to Quinta, stranding passengers, ships and cargo.
Citing preliminary reports from the Bicol region where Quinta was being expected to make landfall on Sunday evening, Timbal said that at least 532 families or 1,789 individuals have been preemptively evacuated from the towns of Guinobatan in Albay and Canaman in Camarines Sur.