Shear line thunderstorms trigger floods, landslides in Visayas, Southern Luzon

Some parts of the country recorded incidents of landslides and experienced floods due to the rains brought by the shear line and localized thunderstorms.

According to Joseph Morong’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, floodwaters susbmerged roads in parts of Negros Oriental. 

Residents of Barangay Pacuan fled as the floodwater engulfed the streets. Several objects were washed away by fast moving floodwater. 

The spillway in the area also overflowed because of the flooding. 

Meanwhile, the body of a man was recovered in the Pacuan River after he was swept away by the strong current. 

“He was supposedly on his way home, and we have a bridge made of bamboo. After he had already crossed, he went back. When he returned, he didn't use the bridge but crossed through the river itself instead. Due to the strong current of the rushing floodwaters, he was swept away,” said Kagawad Ronald Fabillar in the local language. 

In Diga, Catanduanes, rescuers saved a resident trapped by raging floodwaters. The resident was rescued through the help of a rope and a life ring. 

A woman in the same town was also rescued after being trapped inside her home. 

Three boatmen crossing a river in Barangay Obo in San Miguel, Catanduanes were also rescued. However, another boatman remains missing. 

Moreover, there were incidents of landslides and mudslides reported in provinces in Bicol Region. 

In Baras, Catanduanes, an ambulance was stuck in thick mud. A clearing operation was immediately conducted to save the vehicle and its occupants. 

Meanwhile, the water level of a river in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro rose due to the non-stop rains. 

PAGASA explained that the rains in southern Luzon, Bicol Region, and the Visayas were caused by localized thunderstorms and shear lines. 

“Nangyayari po itong shear line kapag may kalakasan yung bugso ng ating Amihan. So lagi kapag malakas yung bugso ng ating Amihan tapos bumabangga yung malamig na Amihan sa mainit easterlies, nagkakaroon tayo ng shear line,” said  weather specialist Daniel James Villamil.

(This shear line occurs when the gusts of our Amihan are quite strong. So, whenever the gusts of the Amihan are strong and the cold Amihan collides with the warm easterlies, a shear line is formed.) 

The effects of the shear lines could last up to a few days, PAGASA said. 

“So possible itong Amihan season kasi natin magtatagal pa hanggang sa dulo pa ng Pebrero or  first week ng March. So until then, asahan pa rin natin may mga episodes  pa rin tayo ng shear line,” said Villamil. 

(So it is possible, since our Amihan season will last until the end of February or the first week of March, until then, we should expect to have more episodes of shear lines.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News