STRANDED. Motor vehicles were at a standstill on this highway in Puerto Princesa City as floodwaters rendered it impassable on Tuesday evening (Dec. 19, 2023). Floodwaters rose to up to six meters in certain areas of the city. (Photo courtesy of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that a total of 62 families or 244 individuals were rescued from their homes from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning after continuous rains caused floods reaching as high as six meters deep in some villages.
The non-stop rains were brought about by a low-pressure area located 185 kilometers south of the city.
CDRRMO Officer Earl Timbancaya on Wednesday told reporters that the majority of evacuees came from Barangay Luzviminda’s Purok Katiwasayan, where floodwaters rose to a depth of five to six meters.
He also said many motorists were stranded as rising flood waters turned the national highway along Sitios Tagbarungis and Tacduan into a virtual lake.
Timbancaya also reported that a power outage from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday affected Under Banga Sectionalizing Sta. Lourdes, Sicsican, Don Eduardo Village, and Removille, among other areas.
The municipal official disclosed that the CDRRMO recorded several mishaps during the stormy night.
“An electrocution incident occurred in Barangay Milagrosa, but there is still no updated information available on the affected individual's identity or condition,” he said in Filipino.
Despite the heavy downpour in the city, operations of air and sea transportation continued Tuesday, except for Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 639, which had to be diverted.
As of this posting, many of the evacuees at the “mini city hall” or satellite city hall in Barangay Luzviminda have returned to their homes as the floodwaters receded.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and advise residents to follow safety guidelines and stay updated on local weather forecasts, Timbancaya said. (PNA)
