By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Several areas in the southern part of Negros Occidental experienced flooding on Wednesday following torrential rains brought by a combination of low pressure area and southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

In Sipalay City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) personnel rescued three families living near the Sipalay River in the city’s Mambaroto-Cabadiangan area on Wednesday.

Sipalay CDRRMO reported 22 individuals were brought to safety after the river suddenly overflowed due to non-stop rains.

Meanwhile, parts of Sitio Dingasaan in Cauayan town’s Barangay Inayawan experienced flash flood, although there were no reports of evacuation.

In a weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the low pressure area was last spotted yesterday at 90 kilometers east northeast of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA said parts of the Visayas, including Negros Occidental, will experienced cloudy skies with light to moderate and at times heavy rains.

PAGASA also warned flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards./DGB, WDJ