Landslide alerts up due to LPA, thunderstorms
A LOW pressure area (LPA) off Maddela, Quirino, bringing moderate to occasional rainshowers in most parts of Luzon, has put the landslide and flooding alert levels up in highrisk areas, especially in the northern areas and Bicol Region. Weather agency PAGASA said in its weekly forecast that the LPA is expected to exit the country by today, Oct. 9. Another LPA is “likely” to develop east of the Visayas by Tuesday, but this is not expected to have direct impact on any landmass this week. The whole country is forecasted to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms until Friday.
VISAYAS
A landslide alert was also up in parts of the Visayas due to thunderstorms characterized by heavy rains with lightning and strong winds. Among those affected were Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental. In Cebu City, Nagiel B. Bañacia, head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, reiterated the local government’s call to those living in landslideprone areas to immediately evacuate during intense rain as a 41-year-old carpenter was killed in a landslide at Sitio GMA in Barangay Apas, Cebu City following a heavy downpour Saturday afternoon.
MINDANAO
In the country’s southern part, thunderstorms were expected mostly in the central to western areas, particularly Isabela City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Davao City, and General Santos City. In Davao City, a portion of a main thoroughfare, the C.P. Garcia Highway or Diversion Road, has been closed due to a landslide since evening of Oct. 5. As of Sunday, clearing operations were continuing amid cloudy skies and the threat of rain. —