Massive floods hit 2 Negros Occ. towns
Nearly 32,000 people in Negros Occidental have been affected by heavy rains and flooding brought by typoon Goring, according to the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in Western Visayas.
As of 1 p.m. yesterday, the RDCC report said 31,430 persons or 6,309 families in 37 barangays in Negros Occidental have been affected by the continuous rains that have flooded streets and communities. Four houses have also been destroyed and 19 others damaged by the flooding.
No casualties has been reported in the region as of yesterday.
Relief assistance including rice, sardines and noodles have been released to the affected residents, according to the RDCC. All disaster coordinating councils have been activated to monitor water levels especially in rivers near communities.
In Iloilo City, heavy monsoon rains spurred by typhoon Goring flooded streets and communities forcing some schools to cancel classes after water rose knee-high in several areas in the city.
No damage have been reported in the province while vehicular traffic in the mountainous portion of the road going to Antique was affected after a minor landslide occurred in the boundary of San Joaquin and Hamtic town in Antique.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN reported that local officials in Negros Occidental on Wednesday placed two municipalities in the province under a state of calamity due to massive flooding brought by Typhoon Goring (international codename Wipha).
Report said a state of calamity has been declared in the municipalities of San Enrique and Valladolid after floods submerged 14 villages and displaced 6,000 families.
Classes have been suspended in Banago Elementary Schools 1 and 2 and Domingo Lacson National High School in Bacolod City since Tuesday.
Local officials said the heavy downpour began Sunday and continued until Tuesday night.
Weather bureau PAGASA on Wednesday said the country will continue to experience heavy rains after Goring enhanced the southwest monsoon.
PAGASA chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said the southwest monsoon will largely affect Western Luzon and Visayas. He warned that the rains may bring floods or landslides in some parts of the country.
He added that a surge of strong winds is expected to affect the western seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas. (With a report from ABS-CBN News)