LEGAZPI CITY, Albay –Thousands of families in Bicol have evacuated to safer grounds as typhoon “Uwan” (international name “Fung-Wong”) approached the region Saturday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol said 14,773 families or 60,902 individuals have sought shelter in evacuation centers in the region.

Albay has 13,410 families or 38,473 individuals; Camarines Norte, 882 families (3,126 individuals); Camarines Sur, 1,995 families (7,015 individuals); Masbate, 184 families (253 individuals), and Sorsogon, 521 families (1,334 individuals).

In Catanduanes, 1,363 families (4,440 individuals) were forcibly evacuated and 1,849 families (6,251 individuals) voluntarily left.

In Guinobatan town in Albay, Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco confirmed that preemptive evacuations began early Saturday morning in areas with a high risk of lahar flow, flooding, and landslides.

The local government reported that 5,968 families or 18,510 individuals were evacuated from 31 barangays –Tandarora, Upper and Lower Binogsacan, Bubulusan, Ilawod, Travesia, Masarawag, San Rafael, Minto, Morera, Iraya, Maninila, San Francisco, San Jose, Poblacion, Balite, Calzada, Doña Mercedes, Malipo, Inamnan Pequeño, Malobago, Batbat, Cabaloaon, Bololo, Maguiron, Palanas, Inascan, Mapaco, Banao, Agpay, and Sinungtan.

“These areas are among those most vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and lahar flow,” Ongjoco said. Evacuation is being conducted in coordination with barangay officials and disaster response teams.

In nearby Polangui town, Mayor Jesciel Richard Salceda said that 4,123 families or 7,534 individuals have been evacuated.

The municipal government aims to evacuate up to 15,000 families—around 60,000 residents—from 11 flood-prone barangays – Ubaliw, Gabon, Centro Oriental, Centro Occidental, Balangibang, Magurang, Quinale, Santicon, Lanigay, Matacon, and Agos.

Salceda added that Barangays Pintor, Sugcad, Gabon, and Ponso are at risk from landslides.

“Since Thursday, we’ve been coordinating with barangay DRRM councils, and by Friday, we decided to begin preemptive evacuations for flood-prone areas,” he said.

The Polangui local government has prepared 10,000 food packs containing rice, canned goods, and noodles for the evacuees.

Albay Rep. Adrian Salceda visited municipalities in the third district to monitor preparations and ensure readiness of resources and response teams ahead of Uwan’s landfall.

Provincial and municipal disaster response units in Bicol are heightened alert. They urged residents in vulnerable communities to cooperate with evacuation directives and remain vigilant over Uwan.