BACOLOD CITY – Residents of Negros Occidental, including this highly urbanized city, have been advised to remain alert amid a heavy rainfall warning and possible sediment flows from Kanlaon Volcano as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised across the province due to Tropical Depression Verbena on Monday.
As of 2 p.m., Negros Occidental is under yellow warning and “flooding is possible in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas,” according to the Visayas Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Regional Services Division.
“The public and the disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to monitor the weather condition and watch for the next warning to be issued,” the advisory said.
Under Signal No. 1, winds of 39 to 61 kilometers per hour may be expected in at least 36 hours, with potential impacts of minimal to minor threat to life and property.
In Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday afternoon ordered the pre-emptive evacuation of persons and families in high-risk areas amid the impending threat of Tropical Depression Verbena.
“This is a precautionary measure in view of the expected strong winds and continues heavy rains from Verbena, which may pose grave danger to residents in low-lying and geographically hazardous areas,” he said.
Majority of the local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have suspended face-to-face classes in all levels.
Some LGUs such as the cities of Cadiz, San Carlos, and Victorias as well as the municipalities of Toboso and Calatrava, all in northern Negros, cancelled classes on Tuesday as well.
In Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya said he convened a pre-disaster risk assessment to ensure preparedness, particularly in the coastal communities and other vulnerable areas.
“All response units are on standby, closely monitoring weather developments, and ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice,” he said in an interview.
Gasataya said City Engineer’s Office also dispatched teams to conduct preemptive clearing and declogging operations.
In a separate advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said heavy to intense rainfall can “generate volcanic sediment flows or lahars, sediment-laden streamflows or muddy run-off, and related siltation in rivers and drainage areas on Kanlaon Volcano,” which is currently at Alert Level 2.
It “strongly recommended increased vigilance and readiness of communities in pre-determined zones of lahar and related hazards on this volcano”.
According to Phivolcs, “prolonged heavy to intense rainfall may generate life-threatening lahars and sediment-laden streamflows on major channels draining the southern, western and eastern slopes” of the volcano. (PNA)