Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Communications Office.
Heavy rains linked to a shear line inundate several villages in Bacolod City and other areas in northern Negros Occidental over the weekend, forcing residents to seek temporary shelter.
City social welfare officials report that at least 320 families, or 1,038 individuals from 14 barangays, move to evacuation centers overnight on Saturday as floodwaters rise in low-lying areas.
By Sunday noon, local authorities say all evacuees are able to return home after water levels subside, with barangays in both urban and outlying districts among those affected.
City officials attribute the flooding to sustained downpours that cause rivers to swell and overflow, with runoff from upland and eastern portions of Bacolod rapidly pushing water into residential zones.
Outside the city, initial assessments from the Negros Occidental disaster council show flooding in the cities of Talisay, Escalante and Sagay, as well as the towns of Calatrava and Toboso, though damage and displacement figures are still being validated.
In Toboso, Mayor Richard Jaojoco orders the suspension of classes on Monday following weekend flooding. “Classes in all levels are suspended in Toboso on Monday, Feb. 2 due to the effects of flooding. Executive order to follow,” he says in a social media post.
Local disaster offices report rescue operations in affected communities, road closures later cleared, and evacuees receiving medical checks, preventive medication, and food assistance as authorities continue monitoring weather conditions.