Rains trigger evacuation as city officials call on locals to be on guard
Classes in city schools were dismissed earlier yesterday and government workers sent home as fire trucks repeatedly sounded off sirens in Jaro District. The message was loud and clear – continued rains threatened to flood the city anew. This, as at least five towns kept close watch on rising water level of two major Iloilo rivers.
Earliest to voice out concern were the towns of Maasin, Cabatuan and San Miguel, Iloilo with the rivers here reported to have overflowed just about 1 p.m. yesterday. Guimbal in southern Iloilo closely monitored the situation as well with an update from First District Board Member Richard Garin. Garin said "water in our area is still far from danger. Brown waters but still low level."
By 5:20 p.m., a text message from the camp of Mayor Jerry Treñas informed of water level in the Jaro river reaching 4.3 meters. The "danger" level is 4.5 meters. Concerns ran high though with the rains still non-stop and high tide of 1.7 meters expected 3 a.m. today.
"We are on high alert," the message as forwarded to The News Today (TNT) went.
Radio stations made hourly updates on the water level as families in coastal barangays and riverbanks were advised to take refuge in higher grounds.
Perennial flood-prone areas are Jaro District, portion of Mandurriao District and Lapaz District.
Locals reached by radio stations similarly sought city government's help for temporary shelters. Most of those heard were victims of the June 21 Typhoon Frank devastation and said they are still traumatized of the incident.
Raw information also reported of a sunken vessel off the waters of Antique at the height of non-stop rains yesterday. (see story on page 3)
PAG-ASA in its website warned on possible storm surge and called on those directly on the path of Typhoon Nina to heed government warnings. Iloilo though was not under any typhoon signal with the rains brought by low pressure.
To note, the provinces of Iloilo and Antique are within the area of nine major river systems. Sibalom River passes through the Iloilo towns of Tubungan , Leon and Tigbauan. Aganan River through Second District towns of Alimodian, San Miguel and Pavia . Suage River by Janiuay and Pototan. Tigum River through Maasin, Cabatuan, Sta. Barbara, Pavia and Iloilo City . And the Jalaur River through Calinog, Dingle, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas and Leganes.
In Antique, river systems are that of Dalanas, Paliwan, Cangaranan and Sibalom.