MANILA, Philippines – Various local government units (LGUs) ordered mandatory evacuations in areas affected by Tropical Depression Maring on Tuesday, September 12.
The evacuations are being enforced in some towns in Quezon, Rizal, and Laguna provinces with the help of police, military, and other responders, according to Mina Marasigan, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My thoughts & prayers are w/ everyone in the path of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaringPH?src=hash">#MaringPH</a><br><br>Video of the flooding situation in Atimonan, Quezon taken by Fr <a href="https://twitter.com/warrenpuno">@warrenpuno</a> <a href="https://t.co/wVbSFnFuqi">pic.twitter.com/wVbSFnFuqi</a></p>— Jenny Tuazon (@jennytuazn) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennytuazn/status/907491995848908801">September 12, 2017</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
At least 520 families are now staying in evacuation centers in Agdangan, Atimonan, Calauag, Gumaca, Lopez, P Burgos, and Pitogo towns in Quezon province, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Calabarzon said.
Evacuations are also ongoing in flood- and landslide-prone areas in Taytay in Rizal, Nasugbu in Batangas, Los Baños and Calamba in Laguna, and in some parts of Cavite, according to Marasigan.
In Rizal, 24 evacuation centers were opened for displaced families in Taytay, Morong, San Mateo, Teresa, and Angono towns, DSWD-Calabarzon reported. At least 141 families sought refuge at the Hapay na Mangga Elementary School in Taytay.
Over in Bicol, 8 families from Sitio Contod Guinacutan, Vinzons town in Camarines Norte were brought to the Vinzons Pilot High School for safety.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier advised concerned LGUs to follow measures outlined in the disaster preparedness manual Oplan Listo.
Oplan Listo provides mayors and other local disaster management agencies a checklist that enumerates what should be done before, during, and after typhoons. Minimum critical activities that LGUs should be enforcing in affected areas include preemptive and forced evacuations.
Stranded passengers
Around 450 passengers were stranded in Bicol, most of them in Tabaco City, according to local officials.
In Calauag town in Quezon, passengers of a bus were rescued after they got stranded along Maharlika Highway.
Marasigan called on passengers and residents in affected areas to stay alert and to prepare for more rain and possible flooding and landslides.
As the tropical depression battered parts of Luzon on Tuesday, two brothers – one 17 years old, the other 14 – died after a landslide hit their home in Taytay, Rizal, said Marasigan.
Maring made landfall in Mauban, Quezon at 9 am on Tuesday, and then crossed Laguna, Rizal, and Metro Manila. It is expected to exit landmass via the Zambales-Bataan area on Tuesday evening. – with reports from Rhaydz Barcia / Rappler.com