Landslide and Flooding in Bicol Region

03 January 2011

Thousands of families were evacuated in provinces of Albay and Sorosogon affected by floods and landslides. The floods and landslides are caused by continuous rains which started early morning of December 29, 2010, brought by tail-end of a cold front.

Three deaths were reported in Albay. Two are from municipality of Manito, while the other is from Legazpi City.

In the latest count of NDRRMC, as of January 1, 1 p.m., 12,752 families or 62,655 persons are evacuated in Albay. The disaster officials of Albay ordered decampment in New Year’s Eve after inspecting the affected areas and upon coordination with Pagasa, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Meanwhile, 29 families in the province of Sorsogon have evacuated but returned immediately to their homes after the flood have subsided.

Pagasa forecasted that light to moderate rains will be experienced in the region for the next 24 hours. A northeast monsoon affects the weather in Luzon while a tail-end of a cold front affects Visayas and Mindanao. Pagasa warns the public of possible water courses that are likely to be affected:

• BICOL RIVER BASIN in CAMARINES SUR
• CABUYAN, BATO and PAJO RIVERS IN CATANDUANES
• CADACAN, BANUAN-DUAN, FABRICA and MATNOG RIVERS in SORSOGON (FLOODED)
• LABO RIVER and DAET BASUD in CAMARINES NORTE
• GUINALE, DANSOL, OGOD and PUTIAO RIVER in ALBAY (FLOODED)
• LANANG, ASID, MALBAG, GUIOM AND DARAGA RIVER IN MASBATE.

On the other hand, barangay officials in disaster-prone areas of Masbate were also alerted of possible flash floods and landslides (PIA).

Sources:

General Flood Advisory # 11 for Region 05. Pagasa.

“Masbate inalerto sa banta ng flashfloods at landslides.” PIA. [http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=9743]

NDRRMC. Situation Report No. 6 re Effects of Continuous Rains due to Tail-End of a Cold Front in Region V. [http://www.ndcc.gov.ph/attachments/article/126/NDRRMC%20Update%20SitRep%20No.%2006%20Landlslide%20and%20Flooding%20Incidents%20in%20Reigon%20V-1%20Jan2011-4PM.pdf]