‘Shear line’ rains affect 23K families in WV

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The scattered rain showers from a shear line have affected a total of 23,224 families in three provinces in Western Visayas.

“A total of 23,224 families or 80,319 persons were affected. Of which, 494 families or 1,841 persons were served inside 43 evacuation centers (ECs) and 1,304 families or 4,749 persons were served outside ECs,” the Office of Civil Defense 6 (OCD-6) reported on Tuesday.

Data showed that 703 families (2,698 individuals) are affected in Aklan, 4,027 (15,916 individuals) in Iloilo and 18,494 (61,705 individuals) in Capiz.

The OCD-6 said the rains experienced in these provinces since Sunday are caused by a shear line, a weather phenomenon where cold air converges with warm air.

Currently, 48 families from Aklan and 446 in Capiz are staying in evacuation centers.

The OCD-6 also noted incidents of flooding in 40 towns in Capiz. Flooded villages include 17 in Sigma, 7 in Pontevedra, 6 in Panay, 8 in Panitan, and one each in Dao and Mambusao.

Meanwhile, nine road sections in Capiz are impassable, of which five are in Sigma, three in Panitan, and one in Mambusao.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6 has already distributed 336 food packs worth P178,080 to affected individuals in Aklan.