MANILA, Philippines – Initial reports from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) show that at least 549 families or 2,047 people have been affected by Tropical Storm Jolina (Pakhar) as of Saturday morning, August 26.
At least 30 evacuation centers were opened, accommodating 253 families or 928 people in affected areas that include Region 1, Region 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the DSWD said.
In Casiguran town in Aurora, where the storm made landfall Friday night, the evacuees returned to their homes Saturday morning. In Region 2, the evacuees also headed back to their homes.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that at least 741 families in Region 3 and, 47 families in CAR left their homes to seek refuge in safer areas.
Police were deployed to areas where evacuation was enforced to prevent looting, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aftermath of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JolinaPH?src=hash">#JolinaPH</a> in Dilasag, Aurora: Uprooted trees and ankle-deep flood in certain roads. <br> <br>Photo by Digi Mae Noveno <a href="https://t.co/KZxCgKcBxH">pic.twitter.com/KZxCgKcBxH</a></p>— Raisa Serafica (@raisaserafica) <a href="https://twitter.com/raisaserafica/status/901269030996029440">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Threat of landslides, flash floods
Even as Jolina exits the Luzon landmass on Saturday morning, disaster managers warned the public about prevailing hazards.
“The Office of Civil Defense CD is still monitoring the effects of the typhoon and the enhancement of the Southwest monsoon," National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad said after the council's response cluster meeting on Saturday morning.
PAGASA warned that monsoon rain in Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan could trigger flash floods and landslides. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, would have light to heavy rain as well.
“We’re concerned by the heavy rainfall that makes affected communities vulnerable to flash floods and landslides,” said DSWD Disaster Response and Management Bureau (DReaMB) Director Felino Castro V.
“We urge the public to continue to be vigilant and prepared,” Castro added.
Jolina is expected leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday night. - Rappler.com
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