13 Olongapo villages submerged in floods

OLONGAPO CITY—Floodwaters due to heavy rains submerged thirteen villages here affecting tens of thousands of residents, a local official said yesterday.

Olongapo City Mayor Bong Gordon said that houses in several areas were submerged in neck-deep floods as heavily silted rivers overflowed forcing residents to seek refuge on their homes’ roofs.

He said at least 70,000 residents were affected by the floods.

Gordon said rescue operations have been launched by teams from the Olongapo City Search and Rescue Group, the Philippine National Red Cross and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for the trapped villagers.

The mayor also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels in the city. He added that some affected residents have been brought to the Olongapo City National High School, which has been turned into an evacuation center. Other evacuation centers were set up in public elementary schools in Barangays Mabayuan, Sta.Rita, Cabalan and Tabacuan.

In Zambales, Governor Amor Deloso said that heavy rains forced about 7,000 residents living in low-lying areas in Botolan town to abandon their homes as flash floods reached up to four feet.

The affected residents were brought in evacuation centers put up by the provincial government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Deloso said that six towns in northern Zambales such as Botolan, Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria and Sta.Cruz are now isolated from the rest of Luzon as strong current floods cut off anew the national highway along Barangay San Juan.

Hundreds of commuters who were stranded as flashfloods continue to wreak havoc in Botolan.

It could be recalled that the recent strong Typhoon Kiko devastated several villages in Botolan including the destruction of the dike along Bucao river causing the diversion of river waters to flow directly to densely populated villages in Botolan.

Deloso assured affected Zambales residents that there would be ‘more than enough’ supply of food, medicines and other provisions for evacuees for the next several days. He, however, said that the province is still accepting donations and other contributions from benevolent groups or individuals.

Weather bureau PAGASA said provinces in Luzon and Visayas will continue to experience monsoon rains even if a typhoon has yet to hit the country. It also warned residents against possible flashfloods and landslides. Rey Garcia