Floodwaters continue to linger at over 64 areas in the Bicol region, following heavy rains from Severe Tropical Storm #KristinePH, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said morning on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
In its 8 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC said a total of 231 roads and 26 bridges remain impassable, while 15 rain-induced landslides were reported.
The devastation affects at least 1,598 barangays, leaving over 1.6 million individuals.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC reported around 2,450 passengers still stranded at sea ports across the region.
In Camarines Sur, the national highway connecting Mabolo and Milaor is impassable, as of this writing, due to waist-deep floodwaters.
"Some areas of Mabolo are still submerged in neck-deep to above-head flood water." Mark Vincent De La Cruz, a resident, said.
Many residents are requesting food and water.
In Nabua, the Holy Cross Parish remains flooded, trapping several vehicles, including ambulances, in front of the church.
The Coast Guard District Bicol is conducting search and rescue operations, working with other agencies to provide immediate assistance to communities affected.
In Barangay Sampaloc, Gainza, Camarines Sur, floodwaters remain above head level.
"Lagpas tao pa po yung baha, malakas po ang hangin at alon ng baha. 'Yung ibang bahay po ay sira na," Tintin Lopez Collantes, a resident, said.
Residents are on the roofs of their homes due to severe flooding. They are running low on drinking water and food.
"Masakiton maka kuang tubig inumon, saka pagkakan. Sanop-sanop na gabos na agihan kang tubig baha, sana may bukal sa puso na kahit tubig pag inom lang matawan kami," Collantes said.
In Sorsogon City, floodwaters lingered in some areas.
Ted Joshua Divina Marzon, a resident of Barangay Salog, said some of his relatives earlier evacuated due to rising waters near the river, while he and his family chose to stay.
"'Yung mga kamag-anak ko, sila po nag-evacuate kasi nasa baba po sila na lugar, malapit rin po sa ilog... sa mabilis nga po sa pa[g]taas ng baha, may mga gamit po sila [na] hindi naisalba [at] na lubog sa baha. So far ligtas naman kami lahat po," Marzon said.
ASSISTANCE AND RESPONSE
In Camarines Sur, Governor Luigi Villafuerte announced efforts to organize transport of goods and set up ropes and bamboo boats for those stranded.
“Nasa state of calamity na po kita asin kaipo nin dawa anong asistensya asin tabang na maitatao arog kan rubber boats, potable water, asin canned goods," he announced.
In Sorsogon, local officials and community leaders, distributed food packs to families in evacuation centers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also provided relief goods from the provincial government.
Meanwhile, the Albay Local Government plans to distribute over 30,000 family food packs to residents affected by the storm.
Acting Governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao confirmed that they aim to complete packaging the food packs by Thursday morning for immediate delivery to local government units.
"Padagos tabi ang pag repack kang bagas para sa mga naapektaran kang kalamidad. Piglalaoman na matapos hanggang sa aga ang pag repack nin maabot sa 30,000 na food packs (6 kls. nin bagas) na i-augment sa mga LGUs sa Albay," Bongao announced on Wednesday.
In Camarines Norte, Governor Ricarte Padilla has declared a state of calamity due to the severe impact of the storm.
"Sa mga susunod na araw ay mas lalong malaki pang challenges ang haharapin ng probinsya... At nawa nga po ay walang maitalang casualties na namatay o missing sa ating probinsya," Padilla said.
As the Bicol region grapples with the aftermath of Tropical Storm #KristinePH, communities continue to band together, seeking support and resources to recover from this natural disaster.
In Irosin, Sorsogon, netizens praised authorities for rescuing a man amid the effects of Severe Tropical Storm #KristinePH.
"Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, ang ngiti ng bawat Pinoy ay nagsisilbing ilaw na nagbibigay ng pag-asa at lakas," the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (PPO) said in a Facebook post.
