Western Visayas ‘back to normal’ as ‘Egay’ wanes
ILOILO CITY – Western Visayas is “back to normal” after the onslaught of heavy rains and winds attributed to tropical storm “Egay (international name: Linfa).”
This was the assessment of Rosario Cabrera, Director of the Office of Civil Defense in Region VI (OCD-6) and Chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas (RDRRMC-6).
Cabrera said the reported floods in many parts of Panay and Negros Islands have subsided while electricity is back to normal. Over the weekend, there were constant power blackouts after electrical posts were knocked down by powerful winds. State weather agency, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Egay was located155 kilometers northwest of Laoag as of 11 a.m. today. The storm, according to PAGASA, with maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph will linger in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Cabrera said many sea or fishing trips were earlier halted as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other agencies sent strong warning to avoid sea travel.
Region-wide, the RDRRMC-6 does not have the exact number as to how many vessels were temporarily stranded from July 2-July 5. However, Cabrera said many trips by sea yesterday resumed in coastal areas of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidentals.
A small tornado was also spotted along the Iloilo Strait, a body of water that separates Iloilo City and the island province of Guimaras.
Over the weekend, several commercial establishments and restaurants in Iloilo City suffered slight damage. Signage and portions of houses’ roofs were blown off.
Meanwhile, RDRRMC-6 is in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard in Iloilo and Negros Occidental in search and rescue operations for the seven missing fishermen after their fishing boat capsized in the Visayan Sea last Thursday, July 2.