Baler, Aurora residents still plagued with brownout, flood

Residents in Baler, Aurora have yet to recover from the effects of Typhoon Nona as heavy rain continued to fall and rivers overflowed, a report by Athena Imperial on Unang Balita on Monday said.

In Sitio Diguisit, Brgy. Zabali, motorists and residents were stranded after the water level in Dicaloyongan River rose.

Residents of Sitio Gabgab in Brgy. Buhangin, one of the low-lying areas in Baler, however, went back to their homes even if their area was still flooded, the report said.

One of the residents said the flood from Nona was higher than that caused by Typhoon Lando in October.

Some residents chose to go back to their homes after staying in the evacuation center, as they said the flood level will not rise anymore. They also noted the evacuation center is not that clean. But they said they will evacuate once the water level rises again.

PAGASA-Aurora said if heavy rainfall continues, there is a possibility of flooding again in Baler, Maria, and San Luis. Landslides may also occur in the Sierra Madre mountain range and boulders and debris may go down and obstruct roads.

Meanwhile, power supply has yet to be restored in the whole province of Aurora.

Power was cut off on Wednesday, Dec. 16 due to flash floods.

Some businesses and houses relied on generators for electricity.

Residents crowded a free charging station to charge their gadgets and said they hoped power would be restored before Christmas. —KG, GMA News