‘Quinta’ forces Bicol, Laguna evacuation
Residents fled their homes in Bicol and Laguna early Sunday as severe tropical storm “Quinta” was expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds.
Some 551 families comprised of 1,864 people in Guinobatan, Albay; Canaman, Camarines Sur; and Casiguran, Sorsogon took shelter in evacuation centers, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol said.
“Quinta” was to make landfall over the Catanduanes-Albay-Sorsogon area on Sunday, according to state weather bureau PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).
Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero met with Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council officials and ordered the evacuation of residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas but subject to COVID- related protocols.
‘Quinta’ was projected to cross on Monday afternoon portions of Southern Luzon and affect southern Quezon, which is still reeling from floods caused by tropical depression ‘Ofel’ and storm ‘Pepito.’
Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion suspended classes in all levels and work in government offices and a halt in the distribution of all learning modules on Monday.
Aside from the Bicol and CALABARZON Regions, the storm also caused moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan and Antique.
Heavy with at times intense rains were also experienced over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, Caraga and the rest of Visayas will continue to experience light to moderate rains.
In Tacloban, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office sent a 24/7 Blue Alert Order to all staff and personnel and emergency responders and workers.
Before its landfall, the storm already caused floods that damaged a bridge in Naval, Biliran; and submerged a road in Catbalogan City, Samar; as well as landslides that hit roads in Jiabong and Calbayog, also in Samar, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Knee-deep flooding was also reported in Barangay Bucal, Calamba, Laguna and
prompted the evacuation of at least 42 people, according to the OCD-CALABARZON.
A landslide occurred along a road in Majayjay, also in Laguna, early Sunday, but was immediately cleared. At least 1,215 people, including passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers, as well as 649 rolling cargoes,
50 vessels, and 10 motor boats were stranded in Southern Tagalog, Bicol and Eastern Visayas as sea travels were suspended, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Quinta” was projected to cross on Monday afternoon portions of Southern Luzon and affect southern Quezon, which is still reeling from floods caused by tropical depression “Ofel” and storm “Pepito.”
Storm warning Signal No. 2 was hoisted Sunday over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, southern parts of Quezon, Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.
Under Signal No. 1 were the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan the southern portion of Zambales and Calamian Islands.
“Quinta” may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday afternoon.