430,000 evacuated as Opong lashes Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Mimaropa

The continuing impact of Severe Tropical Storm Opong has prompted authorities to conduct the preemptive evacuation of some 430,000 individuals in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and other regions in the country.

According to a statement released Friday by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the affected population was equivalent to about 120,888 families.

Assistant Secretary Rafaelito Alejandro IV, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense, said most of the evacuees were from Bicol, where nearly 93,000 families have sought temporary shelter. 

This was followed by 14,945 families in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and 4,676 families in Mimaropa (Region 4B).

"These are the regions either in the direct path or already affected by Opong," Alejandro said during a press briefing at the NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Alejandro said the weather disturbance was continuing to move across Masbate, prompting ongoing response efforts in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, with authorities also ramping up preparations in Mimaropa.

As of posting time, 307 flooding events have been reported across the country.

Also on Friday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it is verifying reports of four deaths in Bicol and six missing individuals in Eastern Visayas amid the effects of Opong.

The NDRRMC, meanwhile, is currently validating reports of 14 deaths linked to the combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong. The council has also received reports of 17 injured individuals, 10 of which have been confirmed. Of two reported missing persons, one has been validated.

Meanwhile, the PCO statement said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered a "full disaster response" as the storm continued to batter multiple provinces.

"Sa utos po ng ating Pangulong Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, we've been providing assistance sa abot ng ating makakaya," Alejandro said.

(Upon the instruction of President Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, we've been providing assistance to the best of our abilities.) — Sherylin Untalan/ VDV, GMA Integrated News