By JEN BAYLON
At least 1,906 families or 6,797 residents in Negros Occidental have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine,” the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said yesterday.
PDRRMC data as of 5:00 p.m. showed 951 families composed of 3,319 individuals from 80 barangays in 15 local government units (LGUs) have been staying inside evacuation centers due to floods.
Thirty-five affected families or 110 individuals are staying outside evacuation centers.
The PDRRMC recorded 13 flooded areas and five landslide events.
Sea trips from Bacolod to Iloilo, and from Sagay City to Bantayan Islands in Cebu province are still suspended.
No LGU has been under a state of calamity, data added.
The Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office encourages residents to prepare for continued inclement weather until the weekend.
They are also advised to stay vigilant against flash floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, “Kristine” inflicted significant damage on agriculture in the province, totaling P3.9 million, PDRRMC data showed.
Around 150 hectares of rice crops in 10 LGUs sustained damage amounting to P3,221,433.90, affecting 206 farmers in nine villages, such as Barangay Ani-e in Calatrava town; Bug-ang in Toboso town; as well as Malubon, General Luna, Himogaan Baybay, Colonio Divina, Poblacion 1, Maquiling, and Lopez Jaena in Sagay City.
The damage to the fisheries sector, particularly milkfish farms in E.B. Magalona town and Cadiz City, amounted to P575,930, with six fisherfolks in two villages affected.
Livestock in four LGUs also suffered damages worth P131,564, data said.
Signal No. 1 lifted
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was lifted in northern Negros Occidental, based on the 8:00 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
However, northern Negros Occidental will still expect strong winds from the northeasterly wind flow, Pagasa said.
As of 5:00 p.m. yesterday, “Kristine” was over the coastal waters of southern Ilocos Sur.
It packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph, Pagasa said.
The weather disturbance is causing strong storm-force winds extending outwards up to 730 km from its center.
“Kristine” is currently moving west-southwestward at 15 kph, and it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday afternoon, October 25.
Preemptive evacuation
At least 168 families or 554 individuals from 10 barangays in Bacolod City preemptively evacuated following heavy rains and strong winds brought by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine.”
Eunice Ciocon, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, said Barangay Sum-ag has the highest number of evacuated families, with 111, or 356 individuals.
Residents in the following barangays also evacuated due to inclement weather:
* Pahanocoy — 10 families or 37 individuals
* Cabug — two families or five individuals
* Tangub — 19 families or 85 individuals
* Banago — 15 families or 62 individuals
* Barangay 1 — two families or 13 individuals
* Alijis — one family or three individuals
* Estefania — one family or two individuals
* Taculing — three families or five individuals
* Singcang-Airport — four families or 16 individuals
Several barangays in the city are identified as hazard zones due to floods, Ciocon said.
Some families gradually returned to their homes yesterday, she added./JB, WDJ