FLOODED. Flooding affected residents of Barangay Desamparaados in Jaro District on Thursday (June 1, 2023). Heavy rains due to Typhoon Betty-enhanced southwest monsoon caused flooding in 50 barangays in this city, according to the Emergency Operations Center of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (Photo courtesy of B/S Wenalyn)
ILOILO CITY – At least 477 families or almost a thousand individuals were sent to evacuation centers Thursday afternoon following heavy rains caused by Typhoon Betty-enhanced southwest monsoon flooded 50 barangays in this city.
Those who were evacuated came from hard-hit 11 barangays, said Charles Vincent Samodio, team leader of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
Samodio said 16 of the flooded barangays were in Jaro district, 10 in Mandurriao, six in City Proper, five each in Lapuz and La Paz, and four each in Molo and Arevalo Districts.
Most of the flooded areas are caused by the overflowing of a creek, with water rising to knee level as per information coming from officials of affected barangays.
“We are closely monitoring Barangay Calubihan in Jaro because of the possible rise in the water level at the Dungon Creek,” he said.
The evacuees consisting of 477 families or 988 individuals are currently staying in their barangay hall, chapel, or gyms that have been designated as evacuation centers he added.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, as a precautionary measure, has suspended the holding of face-to-face classes from Kindergarten to Senior High School and allowed their temporary shift to modular or online classes for both private and public schools.
Selected offices in the city have been allowed to go home early.
Meantime, in a press conference on Thursday, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. announced that no flooding was reported in the province as per data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
However, nine families were preemptively evacuated in Barangay Igtuba in the municipality of Miagao on Wednesday evening as a precautionary measure amid the moderate to at a time heavy rain showers and a high level of water at the Naclub River.
The municipalities of Mina, Bingawan, Maasin, Oton, Guimbal, Zarraga and Miagao suspended classes in all levels.
“Generally there is no flooding in our municipalities but we continue to monitor,” Defensor said. (PNA)
