BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Severe Tropical Storm Kristine swept through parts of this metropolis, bringing strong winds that caused significant damage to properties and infrastructure.
The storm toppled trees and electric posts, disrupting power and road access in various areas.
The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center reported that 82 houses were damaged, and 715 individuals from four barangays were impacted by the storm.
Additionally, a total of 287 passengers were stranded at Parola Wharf and Roro Wharf due to the disruption caused by the storm.
In response to the severe impacts of Tropical Storm Kristine, Acting Mayor Jeffrey P. Ganzon issued an executive order encouraging preemptive evacuation yesterday for residents in coastal barangays and those in high-risk areas with exposure to the storm’s effects.
This measure aimed to ensure the safety and well-being of the public by facilitating the timely relocation of individuals from vulnerable locations before the storm could cause further damage and disruption.
Ganzon issued the order to mitigate further risks, prioritizing the protection of lives as the storm’s strong winds and heavy rains caused widespread damage in Iloilo City.
“Relative to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center reiterated the call for pre-emptive evacuation in the coastal barangay of the city to protect the general welfare of the public and highly encouraged public and private institutions to shorten their office hours or operations,” Ganzon’s order read.
In response to the storm, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center reiterated the call for pre-emptive evacuation in the city’s coastal barangays to protect the general welfare of the public.
To ensure safety, the center also highly encouraged public and private institutions to shorten their office hours or operations.
This precautionary measure aimed to reduce risks and keep residents and employees safe as the storm continued to affect the region.
Likewise, Ganzon visited the City Emergency Operations Center (OpCen) to monitor and assess the impacts of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
He assured the public that the city’s emergency response cluster is closely watching the weather conditions to ensure safety and preparedness.
As Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) today, October 25, concerns have emerged about another developing Low-Pressure Area (LPA), which has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression.
The situation could lead to the Fujiwhara effect, where two tropical cyclones interact, altering each other’s paths and possibly merging into a single system, posing further challenges for the region./PN
