NDRRMC: Storm Gorio leaves 10k people stranded, roads impassable

A total of 10,064 people were stranded while at least two roads in Eastern Visayas were impassable in the wake of Tropical Storm Gorio (Rumbia), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Saturday evening.

In its 6 p.m. update, the NDRRMC said the stranded were in Central Visayas, Southern Luzon, Bicol, Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

The NDRRMC said 83 vessels, 1,031 rolling cargoes and 21 motor bancas were also stranded.

Of the 10,064 stranded passengers, 2,604 were from Southern Luzon, 2,949 from Bicol, 99 from Northern Mindanao, and 2,628 from Eastern Visayas.

Some of the stranded passengers in Eastern Visayas were brought to Pulam Bato Elementary School.

In Bicol, the NDRRMC said a minor landslide briefly rendered the Masbate-Cataingan-Placer-Daraga Road impassable, but clearing operations made it passable again.

At least two roads in Eastern Visayas - Barangay San Pablo in Naval, Biliran and Barangay Capokpok in Tabango, leyte - were impassable due to soil erosion and flooding respectively.

Meanwhile, at least 23 flights of four airlines were canceled due to bad weather, including those of Philippine Airlines Express, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air and South East Asian Airlines.

In Luzon, the Department of Health in Ilocos activated its operations center and stockpiled medicines, and mobilized medical response and health assessment teams.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol allocated P1.2 million in standby funds for possible disaster operations and pre-positioned 2,000 family food packs and 5,000 sacks of rice.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard sought to discourage fishermen and small sea vessels from venturing out to sea.

For its part, the Department of Agriculture activated its regional command center in Ilocos to monitor for possible effects on crops.

Emergency relief

The government has readied P6.9 million in emergency relief resources to deal with the effects of Tropical Storm Gorio, Malacañang said Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government has started its assessment of the preparedness of areas likely to be affected by the storm.

“Ongoing naman ang mga assets natin when it comes to search and rescue. That is standard already kapag hinihingan ng tulong ay nagpapadala tayo agad," she said, according to a statement on the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO).

In Eastern Visayas, Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated quick response teams and will be ready 24 hours.

The DSWD has also started repacking and preparing 1,040 family food packs, she added.

It has P263,920 in standby funds including other food items worth some P1.7 million.

Also, there is an available standby fund of P270,350 for non-food items in Eastern Visayas.

In Caraga, PCOO said local disaster management units have been activated, with 2,000 family food packs available in case of emergency and a standby fund worth P300,440.

She also said there is a separate P1,042,000 for other food items and P2.7 million for non-food items.

"All in all, the total pre-positioned food packs, standby funds and other food items and non-food items for the two regions amount to P6.9 million," PCOO quoted Valte as saying.

Meanwhile, Valte said the government continues to mobilize resources to help residents affected by flooding in some parts of North Cotabato. — LBG, GMA News