LEGAZPI CITY – At least 2,688 families or 11,827 persons were evacuated to safer grounds in the provinces of Masbate, Albay, and Sorsogon on Tuesday, September 7, due to Typhoon Jolina.
In an update late Tuesday, Gremil Alexis Naz, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 5 (Bicol) spokesperson, said as of 5 p.m., Masbate had the most number of evacuees with 1,755 families (8,609 persons), followed by Albay with 926 families (3,182 persons) and Sorsogon with seven families (36 persons).
"Jolina" made landfall in Masbate's Dimasalang town on Tuesday, dumping moderate to intense rains resulting in floods that affected 42 low-lying villages in Masbate, Albay, and Sorsogon.
The Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) said residents threatened by flooding and landslide in five towns and this city were taken to nearby evacuation centers.
Cedric Daep, APSEMO chief, said those evacuated were villagers living in low-lying communities in the towns of Manito, Camalig, Guinobatan, Oas, and this city.
Daep said no casualties have so far been reported.
In Masbate, floods were reported in 32 villages in the towns of Aroroy, Mobo, Esperanza, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz, San Jacinto, Uson, and Masbate City.
Floods were also reported in the town of Juban in Sorsogon.