Over 70,000 people evacuated due to Ambo; measures vs. COVID-19 observed —NDRRMC

More than 70,000 people evacuated from their homes due to the threat of Ambo, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV that the measures in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat were observed during evacuation.

“Ito po ‘yung mga inalis mula sa landslide, flood, at tsaka storm surge-prone areas,” Timbal said.

According to Timbal, most of the evacuees wore face masks while government personnel who assisted them were clad in personal protective equipment (PPE).

Timbal said local government units (LGUs) did not use as evacuation centers the facilities utilized for the isolation of COVID-19 cases.

He added that the number of families that were allowed to stay inside a room in evacuation centers were limited to two to three only.

“Kung basta magkasya ang ilang pamilya sa isang kuwarto sa evacuation center, puwede. Pero ngayon po, hindi na po puwede ‘yan,” he said.

“Ang ginawa po ng ating LGUs, dinala po nila sa evacuation centers na hindi po ginamit for COVID-19 isolation ang mga kababayan natin,” he added.

The NDRRMC is still consolidating information on the damage and effects due to Ambo from different regions.

So far, NDRRMC received information that 40,980 people were affected by Ambo in six provinces of CALABARZON and Eastern Visayas where Ambo traversed, Timbal said.

Damage to agriculture is estimated to reach almost P80 million in CALABARZON, Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and Cordillera.

Ambo became a typhoon but has since weakened into a tropical depression.

As of 11 a.m. on Sunday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes as Ambo accelerates moving north.

Ambo is expected to become a low pressure area in 12-24 hours. —KG, GMA News