LEGAZPI CITY -- Some 542 families or 2,189 persons sought shelter in various evacuation centers in Bicol as floods and landslides hit low-lying and mountainous villages in several towns in the province of Camarines Sur and Albay due to Tropical Storm "Ramon" (Kalmaegi) as of Thursday afternoon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said on Friday.
The OCD report said flooding affected 19 villages in the towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Pasacao, Del Gallego, Canaman, Calabanga, Tinambac, Lagonoy Magarao, and Sipocot all in Camarines Sur, and Tiwi, Albay.
Claudio Yucot, OCD regional director, said ankle-to knee-deep waters were reported in these affected areas while the water level in river channels rose by two feet (0.60 meters) to 1.5 meters.
Landslides were reported in Barangay Sta. Rosa Del Norte in Pasacao and Barangay Mananao, Tinambac, both in Camarines Sur.
Power outages were reported in the towns of Del Gallego, Lupi, Caramoan, and Presentacion all in Camarines Sur.
At least 2,577 passengers, 757 trucks, buses, cars were grounded in the ports of Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Sur.
At least three flights in Legazpi City airport were canceled due to bad weather. (PNA)
