Sagay City Fire Station personnel deliver water to flood-affected communities in barangays
Paraiso and Fabrica in Sagay City.* Sagay Fire Station photo
The number of houses damaged and destroyed by floods that hit northern Negros Occidental during the weekend rose to 1,076.
The bulk of these were in Sagay City, which was the worst hit, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
As residents of Northern Negros struggle to recover from the recent floods, the state weather bureau warned on Tuesday that Tropical Depression Basyang, which may reach tropical storm category, is likely to hit Negros Occidental on Friday, Feb. 6.
Heavy rainfall may hit Negros Island from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
“Localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslides are also possible in highly susceptible areas,” it said.
At 11 p.m. Tuesday, PAGASA reported that the center of the tropical depression was 965 km East of Northeastern Mindanao, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Occidental provincial government sent 600 family food packs to aid the flood victims in Sagay City, on Tuesday.
These food packs will augment the assistance already being provided by the Sagay City government, he said. “We are ready to extend more help if needed”, he added.
The PDRRMO reported that of the 1,076 damaged and destroyed houses in Northern Negros from the weekend floods, 911 were in Sagay City.
The totally destroyed houses in Sagay City numbered 116, followed by Escalante City with 7, Calatrava with 3, and Toboso and Talisay City with 1 each.
Damaged houses in Sagay City totaled 795, followed by Escalante City with 144, Calatrava – 5, and Toboso – 4.
The PDRRMO also reported that the floods affected 18,547 residents, with 8,760 in E.B. Magalona, followed by Sagay City with 7,651, Calatrava – 812, Toboso – 552, Escalante City – 533, Cadiz City – 142, and Talisay City – 107.*
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