Floods, landslide hit Sipalay City, Negros Occidental;149 residents evacuated

Heavy rains in Negros Occidental triggered by a Low Pressure Area have caused flooding and landslide in portions of Sipalay City on Friday.

A three-foot high flood hit Barangay Cartagena causing some 36 families to evacuate.

A total of 149 individuals were temporarily sheltered at the church and elementary school of the said barangay.

Severo Hablado, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the water started to rise at about 12 noon.

Hablado said aside from houses, the flood reached the highway causing it to be unpassable for almost three hours.

Some vehicles, particularly buses, diverted to other routes like via Candoni going to Bacolod City.

"An ambulance going to Bacolod City was among the vehicles stranded due to the flood. The patient was instead brought back to the infirmary facility in Sipalay," he added.

A waste-deep flood and landslide also hit a portion of the road in Barangay 4 of the southern Negros Occidental locality at about 2 p.m.

The road also became unpassable for about three hours as some trees also toppled down.

A 40-year-old male resident reportedly sustained minor injuries after slipping off while clearing their backyard from wastes caused by the flood and landslide.

Residents along with personnel of CDRRMO helped in the clearing operations.

Hablado said they are now conducting close monitoring especially among areas that are prone to floods and landslides.

Residents, especially those near the riverbanks and low-lying areas, were also advised to be vigilant.

"They are urged to be ready for possible evacuation especially the moment water starts to rise or movements on the ground are observed," he added. — BAP, GMA News