BACOLOD CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Negros Occidental initially reported on Friday that more than 1,000 individuals were evacuated due to flooding in the cities of Silay and Victorias, and the town of E.B. Magalona, following heavy rains since Thursday night.
These individuals greeted the New Year in their temporary shelters as they were evacuated from their houses.
In Victorias City, 1,508 individuals or 413 families were temporarily sheltered in various facilities while waiting for the water to subside.
In Silay City, 123 families or 427 individuals in four villages were also affected by the flood. Rescue operations started on late Thursday night until early the following day, transferring residents to safer grounds as the water reached their houses. In E.B. Magalona town, residents of Barangay Latasan and San Jose were also evacuated after the water was reported to reach the neck-level.
According to the town’s disaster risk reduction and management office, evacuation is ongoing. Affected residents were temporarily sheltered in a chapel in Barangay San Jose. (Glazyl Masculino)
