1,200 families in Iloilo affected by rains amid dry season

At least 1,200 families in Iloilo province were affected by the floods brought about by the inclement weather in Visayas and Mindanao, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas’ Zen Quilantang reported on “24 Oras” on Thursday.

In Calinog town, the municipal disaster risk reduction council said 24 barangays were hit by landslides and floods caused by the continuous downpour that started on Wednesday. Houses and trees were also toppled and crops ready for harvest were damaged by the heavy rains experienced amid the dry season.

“Ano ang magagawa eh tinabunan na ng lupa? Sabi ko nga sana merong tumulong sa amin kasi sayang talaga...na-wash out,” Alex, a resident, said.

(What can we do? There was a landslide. I’m just hoping someone will help us because everything has been washed out.)

The local government has started clearing operations in the municipality, according to the report.

Meanwhile, several residents were stranded in Dueñas town after a bridge in their area was deemed impassable due to the rising floodwaters.

Flood also hit Passi City, with a family evacuated in Barangay Agdahon and a bridge in Barangay Agtambo sustaining damage.

The rainfall also flooded several areas in the Cotabato provinces including Koronadal City and the Pikit town.

State weather bureau PAGASA said rains may continue over a large swath of the country due to the low-pressure area off Puerto Princesa City, Palawan embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Rainfall advisory levels were earlier issued over parts of Visayas, with orange warning raised in areas in Negros Occidental including Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, Sipalay City, Hinoba-an, and yellow warning in the southern portion of Iloilo, Guimaras, the rest of Negros Oriental and the southern portion of Antique. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News