Still reeling from the severe flooding that swept through parts of Capiz earlier this month, Western Visayas is now under a fresh warning from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for possible flash floods.
In its General Flood Advisory No. 14, issued Tuesday at 6 a.m., Pagasa said light to moderate rains and thunderstorms are expected within the next 12 hours as a low-pressure area (LPA) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to influence the Visayas.
The renewed alert comes after Tropical Storm Ramil, which battered the Philippines around October 17-18, dumped an estimated 365.5 millimeters of rain in Roxas City, Capiz-roughly equivalent to more than a month’s worth of rainfall for the locality.
Capiz bore the brunt of the storm, with the provincial board declaring a state of calamity soon afterward.
Human casualties from Ramil in the region have mounted: at least 5 deaths in Capiz province, bringing the total national death toll to 10 from the storm.
Government agencies are still finalizing damage estimates to property and infrastructure for Capiz from Ramil.
According to the advisory, the watercourses at risk include:
Capiz – Rivers and tributaries of Panay, Mambusao, Panay Malinao, Alingon, and Balantian.
Iloilo – Pinantan, Barotac, Akalaygan, Jalaud, Jalano, Jagdong, Jalaur, Lamunan, Jaro-Aganan, Sibalom, and Guimbal.
Guimaras – All rivers and their tributaries.
Aklan – Rivers and their tributaries of Ibajay, Aklan, and Jalo.
Antique – Sibalom, Ipayo, Cagaranan, Palawan, Cairauan, Dalana, and Tibiao.
Negros Occidental – Malogo, Sicaba Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and Lower Ilog.
Residents in low-lying barangays and those along mountain slopes are being strongly urged to be on standby for flash floods and possible landslides, especially in areas where the ground is already saturated from the earlier storm.
PAGASA also called on local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) to ensure early warning systems are active and evacuation plans are ready.
The advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday or until a new bulletin is issued.
For the latest updates, the public may visit https://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph