AERIAL photo shows the impact of flood in Sigma town, Capiz province. (Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas)
ILOILO CITY – The province of Capiz is under a state of calamity due to massive flooding triggered by tropical cyclone "Ramil" over the weekend.
The Capiz Provincial Board passed a resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 21, that approved the recommendation of the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (PDRRMC).
With the state of calamity declaration, the administration of Gov. Fredenil Castro can now utilize the calamity fund to address the urgent needs of those affected.
Based on the latest data, nearly 130,000 residents in 14 towns and the capital of Roxas City were affected by the flooding last Oct. 18 and 19.
Two people were confirmed dead while two other deaths have not yet been verified.
The flash flood in Roxas City surprised many. Some areas in the urban center of Capiz not prone to flooding were inundated. Residents begged to be rescued from chest-deep water.
The PDRRM Office said that flooding also affected residents in the towns of Sigma, President Roxas, Panay, Panitan, Pontevedra, Ivisan, and Maayon.
Clearing and relief operations continue across the province.