Pablo-hit areas told: Remain prepared for ‘Crising’

MANILA (Updated) -- The government advised local government units in Davao to remain prepared and vigilant for possible damages caused by Tropical Depression “Crising,” despite the storm slowing down while moving toward Southern Palawan Wednesday evening.

The Davao Region, which was devastated by Typhoon "Pablo" last year, was one of the areas hit by Crising this week.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 17,374 families or 87,139 persons were affected in the region and in Northern Mindanao, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A total of 3,568 people have been evacuated.

"Inatasan natin ang lahat ng local government units at field offices ng DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) sa Region 11 (Davao Region) na manatiling handa," Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said in a statement.

Roxas also urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately.

He said local disaster and risk reduction management councils in the areas hit by Crising have been alerted since Tuesday and assured that they are now initiating actions to help the affected residents.

On Tuesday, a flashflood incident was reported in Barangay Cabagayan, Tarragona, Davao Oriental, affecting three families and destroying a house. A foot bridge also fell down.

Reports reaching Roxas' department said 389 families remain stranded after the Catingod Bridge in Barangay San Pedro, Caraga, Davao Oriental, was also destroyed by floods.

Residents of Upper and Lower Sangilangan in Waan, Davao City were also evacuated due to floods triggered by the overflowing of the Davao River.

In Maguindanao, a flashflood incident affected five villages on Wednesday morning, the NDRRMC said.

According to the agency, Crising has damaged 87 houses, mostly from the Davao region, and affected six roads and five bridges in the Davao, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga regions.

In its latest bulletin, the NDRRMC said Crising still claimed a single fatality -- Francisco Digaynon, who drowned while crossing the Taytayan River in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley, which was also devastated by Typhoon Pablo last year.

The number of injured people due to Crising remained at four. The victims are residents of Sapad town, Lanao del Norte whose house was destroyed by a landslide on Tuesday.

The tropical depression was located at 370 kilometers northwest of Zamboanga City by 10 p.m. Wednesday, still packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center. It was moving west northwest at 15 kph, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The weather bureau said Southern Palawan remained under signal number 1, adding that Crising is expected to be at 410 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City by Thursday evening, and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)