Heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Egay flooded 70 barangays (villages) here and prompted the evacuation of 489 families on Thursday. “As of noon, we were able to record flooded barangays reaching 70 and 1,634 evacuees,’ said City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (CDRRM) Officer Donna Magno in an interview. Iloilo City has 180 barangays. The water level rose since the flooded villages are in low-lying areas or the flood could be runoff due to the continuous rainfall in the past several days and has already saturated the soil. Evacuees came from 23 flooded barangays and those stranded due to the cancelation of sea trips, a report submitted by the CDRRM office to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas showed. Water rose to as high as 45 inches in Barangays Desamparados and Camalig, and 38 inches in Dungon-B. She added that community kitchens have been activated in evacuation centers to provide meals. Meanwhile, strong winds and waves also destroyed three houses in Yulo Drive and Tabucan and partially damaged 27 others, including 20 in Barangay Rizal Estanzuela, and one each in Sto. Niño Sur, Ortiz, Tabuc Suba, Democracia, Ticud, Mansaya and Airport. Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) centers situated in strategic areas are ready to dispatch personnel anytime for assistance, Magno said. “We urged the public to continue being vigilant and prepare for the effects of southwest monsoon because it brings plenty of rain,’ she added. Communities living near rivers and along coastal are advised to be doubly vigilant of the possible hazards caused by the continuous rain. The CDRRM officer added that while Egay has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, a low pressure area is expected in the next two days.
Source: Philippines News Agency
