BACOLOD City – Floodwaters dampened the New Year’s Day celebration in some parts of Negros Occidental. Thousands were forced to flee their inundated homes as torrential rains spawned by the tail-end of a frontal system triggered floods in the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, and E.B. Magalona town.
In Victorias City, floodwaters in 12 villages rose to hip level, including five “critically” affected barangays of 1, 7, 9, 13 and 19A.
Councilor Francis Frederick Palanca said some 400 families or 1,508 persons were soaked as the clock ushered in 2021, celebrating the New Year at evacuation centers.
In critically-affected villages, Palanca said floodwaters were waist-deep or even higher.
He added that waters started to rise at around 1 a.m., following heavy rains in the upland areas.
“Nobody expected the floods early this morning. We ended up doing forced evacuation and rescue operations. It took only about 10 minutes for the water to significantly rise” Palanca said.
Floodwaters receded around noon, he added. The city government distributed food packs to affected residents.
In neighboring E.B. Magalona town, at least four villages were also submerged in floodwaters.
In Silay City, Board Member Ryan Gamboa, president of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental, wrote on Facebook he woke up to reports of flooding in various areas in the city from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
According to local reports, more than 120 families in four villages, and a yet undetermined number from two other barangays were affected in Silay.
In Talisay just north of Bacolod City, some 3,467 families from seven barangays were displaced by the floods, reports from the city disaster unit showed.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Friday said there was no storm over these areas in the Visayas and in the Bicol region.
It said the prevailing tail end of a frontal system, or the clash of the cold air from the northeast monsoon and warm air brought by easterlies, brought the rains which would continue over parts of Luzon. (With a report from PNA/PN)
