MALAYBALAY CITY(MindaNews/11 November)- Tropical depression “Zoraida” forced 18 families in Barangay Sumalsag in Malitbog, Bukidnon to evacuate to safer grounds as of 5 p.m. Monday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported.
From seven provinces in Mindanao, Bukidnon and four more provinces in the island have been placed under storm signal number 1 as of noon Monday.
Ma. Leah Barquez, PDRRMC point person, said the evacuees fled their houses in an upland portion of Sitio Kapong, Purok 3 in Barangay Sumalsag at around 3 p.m. as strong winds and heavy rains started to pound the area.
Delia Cabilla, a local disaster officer, said that two houses, one of which was inhabited, were damaged in a landslide in Sitio Kapong.
The 18 families from 15 households fled to Sumalsag’s barangay hall.
A total of 62 families fled their homes after super typhoon Yolanda affected seven of the town’s 11 barangays last Friday, the PDRRMC reported.
Arsenio Alagenio, PDRRMC operations officer, told MindaNews that their rescue teams continue to be on alert for Zoraida’s impact.
Barquez said they have relayed a radio message to the 20 towns and the two cities to prepare like what they did with Yolanda.
According to PAGASA, public storm warning signal 1 means 30-60 kph winds are expected within the next 36 hours. The impact of the winds are: “Twigs and branches of small trees may be broken; Some banana plants may be tilted or uprooted; Some houses of very light materials may be partially unroofed; Only very light or no damage may be sustained by areas affected; and Rice crops in flowering stage may suffer significant damage.” (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)