The path of severe tropical storm Kristine as of 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.*
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Emergency Operations Center went on blue alert as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over 22 local government units in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Wednesday morning, Oct. 23.
The Philippines Coast Guard also cancelled sea travel and 25 local government units suspended face-to-face classes in Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Bacolod City and several local government units in Negros Occidental have announced that classes will also be cancelled on Thursday, Oct. 24, as “Kristine” has intensified into a severe tropical storm.
The other LGUs that announced the suspension of classes on Thursday are Talisay City, Victorias City, Silay City, Sipalay City, Cadiz City, Isabela, Binalbagan, Bago, Calatrava, Pontevedra, Murcia, San Carlos City, Cauayan, Don Salvador Benedicto, EB Magalona and Toboso.
The storm is not directly hitting Negros Island but TCWS No.1 remained over Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, Talisay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, Victorias City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, and Vallehermoso, Canlaon City and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center advised concerned offices, agencies, and local DRRMCs to closely monitor their areas of responsibility and to send updates.
Blue alert requires DRRMCs to be on standby and prepared to respond to any incident.
Flooding affected 764 families with 2,811 members in 19 barangays in six LGUs in Negros Occidental on Wednesday .
Areas hit by flooding were Bago, Cadiz, Sipalay and Sagay cities, and Hinigaran and Hinoba-an town, Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head, said.
Damage to crops was initially placed at P1,026,046 and P575,930 to fisheries, she added.
The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel in Negros Occidental.
There were 16 vessels, 221 passengers and 122 rolling cargoes stranded, the PCG said.*