CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Continuous rainfall brought about by tropical depression “Hanna” has flooded 50 villages in the province as of yesterday noon, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported.
PDRRM Officer Angie Blanco relayed to Governor Dennis Pineda that 24 of the total 25 barangays of Macabebe town, 14 barangays in Lubao, 10 in Masantol and two in Apalit were submerged of up to four feet of flood.
The flooding in the said areas is also aggravated by high tides and floodwaters coming from the upstream part of Central Luzon, the report added
Two families consisting of eight individuals from Barangay Tinajero in Bacolor town were evacuated because of the continuous rains.
The PDRRMO has prepared its Disaster Response equipment and manpower to provide quick assistance when needed.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported that some P332, 184 worth of rice crops were damaged in Magalang town.
In Apalit there were some P5, 780, 360 worth of damages to rice crops, the biggest so far, followed by Candaba town with P3, 208, 553 worth of damages.
The local DRRMMs were advised to activate their disaster response program, conduct close monitoring especially in areas prone to flash floods, water surges and landslides, and implement pre-emptive evacuation if needed.
The local disaster units were also tasked to submit situational report at least every six hours and advise the PDRRMO if augmentation of equipment and manpower are needed.
As of 3:00 a.m., yesterday, the center of Tropical Depression "HANNA" was estimated based on all available data at°1,095 km East of Infanta, Quezon (15.7°N, 131.8°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of 70 kph. It is moving West Northwest at 15 kph.