Manila: Some 4,000 people were evacuated from different parts of Albay, in Bicol region’s southern Luzon, due to flashfloods, landslides, and elevated water level on low lying areas, after two days of relentless rain, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.
Authorities enforced the evacuation of residents because landslides and floods occurred in several towns and villages in Albay, NDCC said, adding that local government leaders were on red alert due to predictions that several other places such as Guinobatan and Camalig might also experience landslides and floods.
Residents near the Mayor volcano where volumes of volcanic debris are deposited, are endangered if rains continue to pour and cause landslides, NDCC said.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda called for the deployment of rubber boats to help rescue affected families
There should be zero-casualty in Albay despite the inclement weather, said Salceda.
Flights were cancelled and ships were prevented from leaving ports due to bad weather in the Bicol region, according to the government-run weather station.
The rainy season which began in June should have ended in November.
