Basyang causes flooding in Visayas and Mindanao; hundreds stranded

Tropical Storm Basyang (international name: Sanba) brought heavy rains since Monday in parts of Visayas and Mindanao, according to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

In Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, heavy rains poured for almost three hours straight, causing water in drainage canals to overflow and flood to reach gutter-level.

In Butuan, Agusan del Norte, however, the rains fell for almost the whole day Monday, flooding not just roads but rice fields as well.

Local government officials met with officials of PAGASA, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police to map out disaster response.

Meanwhile, in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, heavy rains and strong winds were felt.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council met to discuss plans to evacuate residents. 

The City Social Welfare and Development Office also had relief goods prepared ready for distribution.

Power went out in Siargao Island amid the bad weather.

Local government officials reminded residents to remain alert for flooding and possible landslides.

Stranded

Meanwhile, in Negros Oriental, hundreds of passengers were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard did not allow vessels to sail away due to the bad weather.

Many of the canceled trips were headed to Dipolog, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Even fishing boats were not allowed to go out to sea.

At Lipata Port in Surigao City, more than 100 passengers were stranded as all trips going to and from Surigao were canceled, according to a separate report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Authorities planned to move the stranded passengers to evacuation centers for the meantime until the weather improves.

At least 2,700 passengers have been stranded in three ports in Visayas and Mindanao as of Tuesday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

In Candijay, Bohol, more than 200 residents from three barangays were already evacuated as rains continue to pour.

At 4 a.m. Tuesday, Basyang was 175 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph.

The tropical storm would bring scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rain over the Visayas; the Caraga, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula Regions; and over Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, and Lanao del Sur.

Basyang is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur on Tuesday morning.

Fourteen areas have been placed under Signal No. 2 as of 5 a.m. Tuesday: Bohol, southern Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, southern Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and the northern section of Bukidnon. —KG, GMA News