Rains trigger panic on victims, non-victims
Wednesday and Thursday's downpour brought by shallow low pressure affecting the Visayas triggered 'panic' in Iloilo City and nearby towns.
With text messages passed around, the call for evacuation was made as fire trucks went out to sound off the warning.
Water levels in the Salog River by Jaro area and the Aganan River in the Municipality of Pavia rose to the highest "alert levels." In the city, families in the coastal barangays rushed to higher and safer grounds anew even as relief operations continue for those still in evacuation centers.
"I just received text from someone: Pavia Tigum River going up. Sirens already sounded. Please check. ALERT!!!Pass," one text message went.
"Prepare. Water in Jaro by the bridge already. Pls. pray," another stated.
Various radio stations spent the evening broadcast with constant updates on the river's water levels as text messages from concerned residents came one after the other.
Yesterday saw yet a heavy downpour in Iloilo City that immediately flooded perennial flood-areas and major streets.
Traffic temporarily slowed down in the downtown area while vendors hurriedly cleared the sidewalks.
"Mapuli na lang ko. Basi gabaha na to sa amon ( I will just go home. Maybe it is already flooded at home)," a fruit vendor said.