By CESAR JOLITO III
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported flooding and landslide incidents across several local government units in the province following continuous rainfall brought by a shear line on Saturday night, January 31.
Based on the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council monitoring, flooding incidents were recorded in Calatrava, Escalante City, Sagay City, Talisay City, and E.B. Magalona, while a landslide was reported in Toboso.
In Calatrava, flooding with water levels reaching one to two meters affected Barangay Suba and Barangay Calampisawan’s Sitio Punong.
Authorities conducted forced evacuations, and residents were later allowed to return to their homes after floodwaters subsided.
In Escalante City, flooding above waist level was reported in Barangays Binaguiohan, Libertad, Pinapugasan, Jonobjonob (Sitio Tubod), and Mabinil.
Local responders carried out evacuation operations to ensure residents’ safety.
In Toboso, a landslide occurred in Barangay Palampangan at 8:27 p.m. on Saturday and was immediately cleared by responders.
Flooding was also reported in Tabun-ac (Sitio Curba Hagnaya), Sitio Aguinaldo in Barangay San Isidro, and Sitio Sag-ahan in Barangay Poblacion.
Rescue operations and forced evacuations were conducted, with affected residents later returning home as conditions improved.
The Toboso municipal government declared all class levels suspended as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, in Talisay City, flooding incidents were recorded in Puroks Highway and Riverside in Barangay Zone 15, and Barangay Zone 12A.
Rescue and evacuation operations were carried out amid moderate rainfall.
In E.B. Magalona, knee- to above-knee-level flooding was reported in Barangays San Jose, Dango, Alicante, Tabigue, Tuburan, and Nanca early yesterday morning.
Evacuation operations were immediately conducted to safeguard affected families.
In Sagay City, flooding affected Barangays Paraiso and Fabrica late Friday night, January 30.
Preemptive evacuations were implemented to prevent casualties.
Fatality
An 87-year-old bedridden woman died after floodwaters inundated her home during heavy rains that caused widespread flooding in Sagay City.
Police identified the fatality as Angelina Oro, a resident of Purok River Hillside, Barangay Fabrica in the city.
Initial investigation showed that Oro was unable to flee when strong currents from a nearby creek overflowed and rushed into their house on Saturday night.
Her body was recovered by personnel of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at 9:20 a.m. yesterday.
Police ruled out foul play and classified the incident as death by drowning.
320 families displaced
Fourteen barangays in Bacolod City experienced significant flooding as a result of torrential rainfall induced by a shear line on Saturday, displacing 320 families, composed of 1,038 individuals, the Bacolod Department of Social Services and Development said.
The affected barangays include Alijis, Bata, Mansilingan, Montevista, Singcang-Airport, Taculing, 2, 3, 18, 20, 35, 36, 39, and 40.
Authorities said runoff from the city’s mountainous and eastern areas caused water levels to increase quickly, pushing some rivers close to overflow.
Authorities have implemented clearing and declogging operations along major roads and streets to help ease water flow in flooded areas.
Disaster response teams closely monitored river and creek levels, particularly with high tide expected to peak at around 10:00 p.m.
On Saturday night, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration placed Bacolod under a yellow heavy rainfall warning due to a shear line affecting parts of the country.
Mayor Greg Gasataya urged residents to remain alert, monitor conditions in their communities, and evacuate immediately at the first sign of danger./CJ, WDJ