Quinta-induced floods force hundreds to flee

By Dolly Yasa and Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Hundreds of individuals were forced to leave their homes due to nonstop rains brought about by Typhoon Quinta which triggered flooding in parts of southern Negros Occidental Sunday night.

A report from the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) indicated that the flooded areas are the towns of Hinoba-an, Moises Padilla, Isabela, and Sipalay City.

In Moises Padilla town, 42 families composed of 170 individuals were evacuated to the town’s auditorium, following a flash flood at the stockyard of Barangay 1.

Reynald Horegue, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said that some of the evacuees wanted to return to their homes when the water subsided, but they were strictly advised to stay in the evacuation center for their safety.

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, said the town’s Department of Social Welfare and Development led the relief efforts by providing food and water to the affected families.

The road from Poblacion village to Barangay Inolingan was also rendered impassable to vehicles due to the rain that eroded the rough trail.

In Hinoba-an town, 15 families from Barangay 1 Poblacion, five others from Barangay Bulwangan, and 30 others from Barangay Talacagay, were temporarily sheltered at their respective barangay halls and covered courts.

At least 37 personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Sub-station in Hinoba-an were also placed on standby for rescue operations.

In Isabela town, six families from Barangay Maytubig, 69 others from Barangay Rumirang, and 43 others from Barangay 5 composed of 457 individuals vacated their houses due to flooding.

The evacuees were transferred to the Social Cultural Center and their respective barangay covered courts.

Earlier that day, several residents in Barangay Amin were also reported to have been stranded for about three hours after the water in the river overflowed. Power supply was also cut off due to the nonstop rain.

In Sipalay City, 224 households composed of 808 individuals were evacuated after the reported flooding in Barangays Maricalum, Mambaroto, Gil Montilla, Nabulao, Cabadiangan, and Poblacion Proper.

According to Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), some of the evacuees have returned to their homes after they have assessed the situation.

However, 10 individuals from Barangays Maricalum and Nabulao still remain in the evacuation center, as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

One house in Barangay Nabulao was also destroyed due to landslide brought by a flashflood, Bogtae said.

Landslides were also reported in Barangays Mambaroto, Maricalum, and Gil Montilla, he added.

In Binalbagan town, more than 50 individuals, including a baby were rescued by personnel of the Binalbagan MDRRMO at Sitio Aslum in Barangay Marina yesterday due to flooding.

No casualties were reported during the evacuation in the said areas.

The PDMPD said the affected local government units are still assessing the damages caused by Typhoon Quinta.