BACOLOD CITY – Heavy downpour since Friday morning has resulted in massive flooding in some areas in this city and in northern Negros Occidental, affected thousands of families.
It was the second such flooding since New Year’s Day when torrential rains also caused flooding in four localities in the province that affected 15,000 families.
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Friday’s rainfall was caused by a low-pressure area and combined effects of the tail-end of a frontal system.
In Bacolod, the flood hit portion of the residential area in Barangays 3 and Singcang-Airport, portions of the national roads along Carvic and in front of a shopping mall in Barangay Mandalagan, Lacson Street, and the area along the flyover in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Araneta Street, Purok Masinadyahon in Barangay Bata, Barangay 4, Purok Santol (Buri road) in Barangay Mandalagan, Parreno Street in Barangay 28, GK village in Barangay Banago, and Hernaez Extension in Barangay Taculing, as of Friday afternoon.
Executive Assistant Jomarie Vargas, cluster head of CDRRMO, said flood water in Libertad and Central markets reached the gutter level, while the water in Barangay Singcang-Airport exceeded one foot.
Fortunately, the flood quickly subsided, thus, no major evacuation was conducted, although heavy rains continued on Friday evening until early Saturday morning.
IZeaphard Gerhart Caelian, chief of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) in Negros Occidental, said that 1,089 families were evacuated in Victorias City, as of early Saturday morning.
In Talisay City, Maj. Jigger Gimeno, city police chief, said that 2,908 families, or 13,308 individuals, were affected, as of 12 noon, Saturday.
A portion of the road going to Catabla Baybay, Barangay Zone 3 in Talisay City was also damaged.
Silay City Mayor Mark Golez said that more than 1,000 families were also rescued from their houses due to high water level.
Landslide was also reported in Barangay Patag, with no casualty.
Golez said the recent flooding was worse than that which hit on New Year’s Day because more infrastructure was damaged, and more people were affected.
Flooding was also reported in Cadiz City, and three villages in E.B. Magalona town.
Assessment on the extent of damage of the flood and relief operations was still ongoing.