BACOLOD CITY – Seventeen barangays were flooded in Negros Occidental on Friday, September 13, due to heavy rains from the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by tropical storm “Bebinca.”
A PART of San Enrique in Negros Occidental was flooded on Friday, September 13, due to heavy rains from the southwest monsoon or 'habagat' enhanced by tropical storm 'Bebinca.' (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Fire Protection-San Enrique)
Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, said that flooded barangays were in Bago City and the towns of San Enrique, Pontevedra, Valladolid, and Isabela.
Ploteña said that flooding was also reported in the towns of Pulupandan and Hinigaran.
She said that they are awaiting consolidated reports from other local government units (LGUs) regarding the situation in their areas.
Authorities are closely monitoring the water level of rivers and other waterways in the province.
Edward Ramirez, operations chief of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said that no flooding was reported in this city.
But Ramirez said they are closely monitoring the possible rise in the water level in Barangays Sum-ag and Pahanocoy.
Evacuees
Nine-hundred twelve residents in Negros Occidental were evacuated on Friday due to flooding caused by the habagat.
Ploteña said that 218 families or 612 persons were displaced in five localities, with 204 families or 557 individuals temporarily staying inside evacuation centers and 14 families or 55 persons seeking refuge outside evacuation centers.
In Sipalay City, 300 individuals in Barangay Gil Montilla were subjected to pre-emptive evacuation after the water level in rivers rose due to heavy rain.
Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), said that evacuees are temporarily sheltered at the city’s evacuation center.
He added that food packs have been provided to evacuees.
Landslide
A landslide occurred in Barangay 4, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, prompting a temporary road closure around 2 p.m. on Friday.
Bogtae said that continuous heavy rains may have caused the lanslide.
He said personnel and heavy equipment were immediately deployed to the area for clearing operation.
Bogtae said that the operation lasted for about an hour and the road was again open for motorists.
Missing
A four-year-old boy was reported missing after he was swept away by strong river current during heavy rain in Barangay Taculing here on Friday afternoon.
The victim slipped while he and his older brother and mother were walking on a river wall on their way home.
They tried to rescue him but were taken away by the strong current.
Ramirez said they were rescued and a search and rescue operation is ongoing to locate the victim.