Continuous intense rains and strong winds brought by Super Typhoon Uwan caused flooding and toppled trees in the provinces of Catanduanes and Albay on Sunday morning, November 9.
In Catanduanes, the persistent rains triggered river overflows and flooding in Virac, Baras, Bato, Panganiban, and nearby towns. Heavy rains since Saturday night also submerged Gogon village in Virac town.
In Panganiban, residents were advised to stay inside their homes or evacuation shelters due to flooding in the villages of Sta. Ana and San Pedro.
The Panganiban municipal disaster risk reduction and management office said the Viga to Panganiban Road was impassable due to a felled tree.
In Albay province, flooding also affected Barangay Kimantong in Daraga town, while a minor landslide was reported in Barangay Bagumbayan.
Albay Gov. Noel Rosal advised the public to avoid low-lying, landslide-prone, and flood-prone areas as the province is expected to still experience heavy rains and gusty winds until this afternoon.
Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol, said 30,831 families or 107,318 individuals were evacuated across the region’s six provinces, while 2,575 passengers and 1,143 rolling cargoes were stranded in various ports. Naz said that a 51-year-old man was injured after falling from a roof he was preparing in Bato town in Catanduanes.
Most of the provinces experienced power outages and limited communication lines.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Uwan maintained its strength and was located over the coastal waters of Pandan, Catanduanes, moving west-northwest at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).
It has maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
Most parts of the Bicol region are within Uwan’s diameter.
Pagasa hoisted the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 in the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Daet, Talisay, Paracale, Vinzons, Jose Panganiban, Mercedes, Basud), the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Caramoan, Garchitorena, Tinambac, Lagonoy), and Catanduanes.
TCWS No. 4 was raised in the rest of Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi, Polangui); TCWS No. 3 in the rest of Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao and Burias Islands while TCWS No. 2 in the rest of Masbate. /das