Floods hit Negros Occidental, 24 Bacolod barangays submerged

Twenty-four barangays in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental were submerged in floods over the weekend due to heavy rains. 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Aileen Pedreso in “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, several motorists and pedestrians attempted to cross the raging floods in Barangay Mandalagan on Saturday evening. 

Motorcycles and multicabs had a difficult time moving forward due to the strong current.

Other major roads in the province were also submerged on Saturday night, leaving many commuters stranded.

“Negros Occidental actually was under yellow rainfall kagabi. Especially, 6 o’clock. Meron tayong high tide mga 7:00 p.m.,” said Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Anna Maria Pornan. 

(Negros Occidental was actually under yellow rainfall warning last night. Especially at 6 o’clock. We also had high tide around 7:00 p.m.) 

Personnel from Bacolod City’s engineering department conducted clearing and declogging operations following the floods. 

The Bacolod City DRRMO said 146 individuals were evacuated on Saturday, but the residents had returned to their homes as of Sunday morning. 

Other areas in Negros Occidental also experienced floods due to heavy rains over the weekend.

In Toboso town, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) helped in rescuing residents stranded by the floods.

“Almost nine barangays dito sa Toboso, affected ng pagbaha. Nag-experience kami ng heavy rains…” said Toboso Municipal DRRMO head Hospicio Carbajosa. 

(Almost nine barangays here in Toboso were affected by flooding. We experienced heavy rains…) 

In Sagay City, two barangays were hit by floods, which prompted a pre-emptive evacuation of its residents.

PAGASA said the shear line caused the rains over Visayas and parts of southern Luzon on Saturday. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News