Kristine floods wash away homes, displace residents in Bicol

Tropical Storm Kristine destroyed homes and displaced people in Bicol ahead of its expected landfall, according to reports on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita on Wednesday.

Floods washed away some houses in Libon, Albay and a hole was observed on a road in Daet, Camarines Norte amid heavy rains, Bam Alegre reported.

Some residents in Legazpi, Albay were seen walking on the metal railings of a bridge to cross the strong current of flood. A state of calamity was declared in Albay due to Kristine. Heavy traffic was reported in Oas and Polangui towns due to the floods.

According to Engr. Dante Baclao, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management, the floods in some areas like Polangui were so severe that rescuers could not go to evacuate people.

"Kagabi hindi talaga puwede. Lampas tao ang baha. Too risky. Hinintay natin. Medyo humupa na ang tubig at pupuntahan na ng rescuers natin. Kailangan ma-rescue sila para hindi magkaroon ng hypothermia," Baclao said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(Last night, the rescuers really could not go. The floods were so high, reaching over a man's height. We waited for floodwaters to recede a little. Now that flloodwaters have gone down a bit, our rescuers will go there today. The residents have to be rescued before they get hypothermia.)

In Camarines Norte, the staircase of a school in Jose Panganiban looked like a waterfall with the floods flowing down the campus. Huge waves were also observed from coastal areas in Daet.

In Camarines Sur, many areas were flooded after the Bicol River overflowed. Rescue operations were conducted in Sitio San Jose in Naga City. Residents in Barangay Del Gallega were also stranded as two spillways were submerged in floods. The flood reached the second floor of some houses in Barangay Triangulo. Forced evacuation was imposed in Pili town.

In Sorsogon province, a pregnant woman who was about to give birth was rescued and brought to the hospital amid the flood in Sorsogon City. Two men in Bulan town rescued and put a dog in an icebox, and walked through a chest-deep flood.

Meanwhile, a carabao was trapped in the middle of the flood in Panganiban, Catanduanes.

Visayas

In the Visayas, the effects of Kristine were also felt.

Some roads were submerged in flood in Sitio Santo Niño in Catbalogan, Samar which affected the movement of motorists and residents. Some motor bancas were damaged due to huge waves. Strong winds also scrapped the roofs of several establishments including stalls and a gym.

In Northern Samar, floods reached the fields and second floor of houses. Heavy rains were also reported in Catarman town.

Schools in Eastern Samar were also flooded. In Dolores town, some trees were bent due to the strong winds.

Northern Luzon

Meanwhile in Northern Luzon, the rains from Kristine almost caused zero visibility on some roads in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. Floods also hit a school in Abulug town.

In Baler, Aurora, surfing and swimming activities were suspended due to the threat of huge waves, according to a report of Katrina Son.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised over more than 20 areas due to the onslaught of Kristine:

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• mainland Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile was raised over parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Kristine (international name: Trami), which was located at 10 a.m. at 275 km east of Baler, Aurora, is forecast to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Wednesday night or Thursday early morning, PAGASA said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News