Floods hit Bicol, Visayas areas due to Paeng

Some areas in Bicol and Visayas regions experienced up to chest-deep floods due to the rains brought by Tropical Storm Paeng, according to Jonathan Andal's report on Unang Balita from GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia on Friday.

In Camarines Sur, 17 barangays in Libmanan experienced knee-deep floods, while Barangay San Agustin in Bula experienced waist-deep floods that entered some houses.

Over 100 people in Libmanan and Calabanga were evacuated from areas prone to landslide and flooding, the Office of Civil Defense Region 5 said.

Some landslide incidents were reported in barangays Pangsangaan and Sta. Maria in Presentacion town, according to the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).

In Aklan, knee-deep flood hit Barangay Poblacion in Libacao town and entered some homes. Oquendo Elementary School in Balete town was submerged in chest-deep flood.

Water also overflowed at a bridge in Madalag town.

The floods in Libacao and Madalag started to subside at 2 p.m. on Thursday, the Aklan Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

In Capiz, some roads in Barangay Tumalalod in Mabusao was temporarily not passable to motorists due to flood.

Floods were also reported in Dumalag town and along the bypass road from Poblacion to Daang Banwa.

The local government units in Capiz prepared evacuation centers for affected residents.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Paeng slightly intensified while moving west northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

Paeng was located 410 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 km/h, moving westward at 15 km/h.

The tropical storm may make landfall or pass very close to Catanduanes on Saturday morning, PAGASA said.

Another landfall may occur on Sunday morning over Aurora or the east coast of Quezon, including Polillo Islands.

With the southward shift there is also a possible landfall in the eastern portion of Bicol Region, PAGASA said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News