LEGAZPI CITY --- Disaster authorities in Albay are planning to initiate preemptive evacuation of some 100,000 families living in flood, landslide, and storm surge-prone areas on Saturday morning in case Tropical Storm Urduja hovers over the province, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said on Friday.
Apsemo is currently closely monitoring the storm that is expected to make a landfall on Saturday in Eastern Samar, according to Cedric Daep, APSEMO chief.
He said in a phone interview that "the pre-emptive evacuation would largely depend on the storm behavior and strength; evacuation would be implemented once moderate to heavy rains occur to trigger floods, lahar flows, landslide including storm surge."
He said once TS Urduja makes a landfall in Eastern Samar, Albay province would be affected as it is within the 500-diameter radius of the storm, which, according to local weathermen, would bring moderate to heavy rains.
Daep explained that once 180 to 240 millimeters of rainfall occurs, evacuation would be implemented in landslide-prone areas and villagers in flood and lahar-prone areas would be brought to safer grounds.
The pre-emptive evacuation procedure, aside from individuals and families, would also include the evacuation of animals, fishing boats, and other livelihood materials.
Daep said the evacuees would be transferred to designated evacuation camps in the 15 towns and three cities of the province. (PNA)
