Preemptive evacuations triggered by Tropical Depression “Basyang” and recent shearline rains have driven 4,266 families, or 11,567 individuals, into evacuation centers across Negros Island, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Friday, Feb. 6.
The evacuees in Negros Occidental were 3,710 families (10,307 individuals), while in Negros Oriental, there were 556 families (1,260 individuals), the OCD report said.
The figure for Negros Occidental was large because it included Sagay City residents who evacuated as shearline rains hit earlier, the report added.
Those affected by the “Basyang” rains on Thursday and Friday in 15 Negros Occidental towns and cities totaled 1,395 families (4,662 individuals), of which 1,171 families (3,676 individuals) sought shelter in evacuation centers, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported at 5 p.m. Friday.
The Basyang evacuees were located in San Carlos City, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante City, Cadiz City, E.B. Magalona, Bago City, La Carlota City, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Himamaylan City, Cauayan, and Hinoba-an, the PDRRMO reported.
The evacuees in Bacolod City were 497, which included 251 stranded passengers at the Bredco Port and 111 at the Banago Port, the city government reported Friday night.
Bacolod City and the majority of the towns and cities in Negros Occidental also suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels on Friday.
Sea travel was suspended in Negros Occidental, which remained under Signal No. 1 Friday evening, even as Basyang was downgraded from a storm to a tropical depression.
Negros Oriental and Siquijor also remained under Signal No. 1 on Friday.
Negros Occidental has prepositioned rescue assets to respond immediately to any emergency, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Water search and rescue equipment and personnel were also on standby in Sipalay City, he said.
The provincial government was also preparing up to 10,000 packs of relief goods for the evacuees, Diaz said.
“All is in place for any eventuality,” he said.*
[sibwp_form id=1]