LOOK: Leni Robredo, Coast Guard, Others Brave Floods To Bring Help In Submerged Areas Due To Kristine
While thousands of villagers, who were trapped in floodwaters, have been rescued by government forces, many more needed to be saved in various parts of the country, including some on roofs.
Widespread flooding and landslides set off by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine on Thursday, Oct. 24, left at least 24 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers, some on roofs.
The government shut down schools and offices – except those urgently needed for disaster response – for the second day on the entire main island of Luzon to protect millions of people after Kristine slammed into the province of Isabela after midnight.
The storm began to move away from the coast of Ilocos Sur toward the West Philippine Sea on Thursday afternoon. As of 4 a.m. today, Oct. 25, the center of Kristine was estimated based on all available data at 125 kilometers west northwest of Bacnotan, La Union with a maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 115 kph.
Most of the storm deaths were reported in the six-province Bicol region, including in Naga City, which was inundated by flash floods as Kristine was approaching Tuesday, Oct. 22, dumping more than two months’ worth of rainfall in just 24 hours at high tide, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon and other officials said.
While thousands of villagers, who were trapped in floodwaters, have been rescued by government forces, many more needed to be saved in the Bicol region and other parts of the country, including some on roofs. About 1,500 police officers have been deployed for disaster-mitigation work, Dizon said.
“We can’t rescue them all at once because there are so many and we need additional motorboats,” Dizon told The Associated Press by phone. “We’re looking for ways to deliver food and water to those who were trapped but could not be evacuated right away.”
Flash floods swept away and submerged cars in some parts of Naga City while mudflows from Mayon, one of the country’s 24 active volcanoes, in nearby Albay province, engulfed several vehicles, Dizon said.
Vice President Leni Robredo braved floods along with her staff and other volunteers to help residents trapped in their houses submerged in floodwaters due to heavy rains brought about by Kristine.
Stormy weather remained in the region, hampering relief efforts, officials said.
The government’s disaster-mitigation agency said more than two million people were affected by the storm, including 75,400 villagers who were displaced from their homes and are sheltering on safer ground.
