CamSur 1st District residents alerted vs rains, f looded areas

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay PILI, Camarines Sur --- The heavy rains caused by the tail end of a cold front have affected low-lying areas in the province and have resulted to flooding, particularly in the municipalities of Ragay, Del Gallego, Cabusao and Lupi, immersing a total of 15 barangays in the 1st District of Camarines Sur in floodwater. A landslide which temporarily crippled the flow of motorists, including buses and trucks going to Manila and vice versa, was also reported in Barangay Comadaycaday in Del Gallego Wednesday morning. A temporary closure of the landslide area was ordered by the local government unit to effectively facilitate the clearing operations. The road was partially opened at 9:00 a.m. and cleared fully by 2:00 pm. According to the report issued by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), through the Environment Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) Chief Lucena “Che” Bermeo, the flooding caused some rivers and spillways to overflow, thus causing an upsurge of water in the aforementioned areas. In Ragay, Barangay Poblacion in Ilaod reached a hip-level increase of water and has affected 175 families, equivalent to 735 persons. In Panaytayan, also in Ragay, 269 families were affected when the Ragay River overflowed, distressing more or less 1,022 individuals. Other barangays affected with floodwater that inundated the dry lands include Apad, Amomokpok and Laguio. The market area of Del Gallego in Barangay Sinuknipan was also flooded. In Cabusao, Sitios Napatas, Looban and Centro in Barangay Barcelonita also experienced flooding and has affected 219 families. The spillways connecting Barangay Poblacion and barangays Barrera Jr and San Pedro also overflowed, including the other spillway connecting Brgy. Napolidan to San Pedro. The bridge connecting Colacling and Bulawan Jr., including the San Pedro spillway also overflowed due to the heavy rains. Bermeo also conveyed that nine persons earlier reported missing in San Vicente, Caramoan were already rescued in San Andres, Catanduanes. “The other six (6) are being taken care of in Calolbon (San Andres), Catanduanes per confirmation of Barangay Kagawad Julius Reazo of San Vicente, Caramoan. (This is a correction of the earlier report from MDRRMO San Andres which stated that the persons mentioned were already sent home,” Bermeo added.