Hundreds stay in Pangasinan evacuation centers due to flood from Typhoon Karen

Hundreds of families remained at evacuation centers in Pangasinan due to flooding brought about by Typhoon Karen, a report on Unang Balita on Monday said.

A total of 28 out of 44 towns in the province still have no power as of posting time, GMA News' Victoria Tulad reported.

At the Maniboc Barangay Hall in Lingayen, residents huddled together with their grandchildren as they recounted how the typhoon affected them.

Elena Flores, 71, of Brgy. Casulming-2 Manibo was one of those who left their homes on Sunday afternoon to stay at the barangay hall temporarily with their families due to the flooding.

Seven families or 25 individuals are housed at the barangay hall as of Monday.

The rains from Typhoon Karen were not that strong but the high tide caused flooding.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office gave the following tally of evacuees:

• 9 individuals at the Basing Evacuation Center in Lingayen;
• 290 individuals are at evacuation centers in Bolinao;
• 122 individuals at evacuation centers in Bani;
• 25 individuals at evacuation centers in Dasol;
• 107 individuals at evacuation centers in Mangatarem; 
• 54 individuals at evacuation centers in Infanta; and
• 66 individuals at evacuation centers in Rosales.

The affected residents were given relief goods, the report said.

Aside from Lingayen, the towns of Binmaley and Calasiao were also flooded with the water reaching knee-level.

In Rosales, flood level was reported chest-deep.

The PDRRMO is still awaiting the reports of the local government offices on whether the floods have subsided.

It added that all roads remain passable and that water was not released from the San Roque Dam.

Thirty-four houses in the entire province were reported damaged.

Pangasinan was placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 over the weekend as Typhoon Karen cut across Luzon.

The typhoon exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility early Monday morning. —KG, GMA News