Super Typhoon “Egay” induced rains have affected 27,357 residents in Negros Occidental, while in Bacolod City 3,378 residents, many of whom were rescued from flood-hit areas, were evacuated on Tuesday, July 25.
The Southwest Monsoon enhanced by “Egay” was causing the rains, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
“Violent conditions are starting over the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Egay moves over the coastal waters of Calayan, Cagayan,” PAGASA also reported at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
There were 6,826 families or 27,357 residents from six towns and three cities affected by flooding, landslides and preemptive evacuation in Negros Occidental, Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division head, said.
Affected in Valladolid were 17,510 residents, San Enrique – 8,233, Salvador Benedicto -1,075, Pontevedra – 258, Bago City – 201, Hinoba-an – 50, Sipalay City -23, Silay City – 7 and La Castellana – 6, she said.
Two houses were destroyed and one was damaged by soil erosion in Hinoba-an. Floods also damaged one house in Pontevedra and two in Silay City, she said.
Arnold Bilojan, 48, of Barangay Aranda, Hinigaran, was reported missing and search and rescue operations were ongoing, Ploteña said.
Four fishermen whose boat capsized were rescued in Valladolid waters, she added.
A landslide was reported in Barangay Guimbalaon, Silay City, and soil erosion in Barangay Sangke, Hinoba-an, Ploteña said.
In Bacolod City numerous residents had to be rescued from flood waters, which in some cases were neck high.
As of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday 999 families with 3,378 members were at 22 evacuation centers in 16 barangays in Bacolod City, the Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office reported.
Affected were barangays 2, 27, 31, 35, 36, 39, 41, Alijis, Cabug, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang, Sum-ag, Taculing and Tangub, it added
The DRRMO said the accumulated rainfall in Bacolod from 8 p.m. Monday to 2 p.m. Tuesday was 28.7 mm equivalent to the amount of rainfall in three to five days.
The flooding was exacerbated by overflowing rivers.
Preemptive evacuation was advised.
The rains are expected to last until Friday, City’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Officer Anna Maria Laarni Pornan said.
The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments were providing food assistance and hygiene kits to the affected residents.*