By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported several areas of the province were forced to evacuate, following last Friday’s heavy downpour, caused by a low pressure area (LPA) and southwest monsoon.

The agency pointed out Bago City, Silay City, Sipalay City, Talisay City, La Carlota City, Hinoba-an, Murcia, Binalbagan, and Pontevedra were inundated.

In Sipalay City, around 42 households were evacuated in Barangay Cartagena; while a landslide was reported in Barangay 4, with no damage reported.

The city also recorded the heaviest amount of rainfall in a 24-hour period in Negros Occidental, estimated at 189.8mm

Around 78 families were also evacuated in Pontevedra, while seven households also fled their homes in Bago City due to rising floodwaters.

PDRRMO has yet to estimate the amount of property damage caused by last Friday’s heavy rains./DGB, WDJ