No casualties have so far been recorded due to Tropical Depression “Basyang” which affected parts of Bohol Tuesday but the province’s emergency response authorities noted that a total of 185 families were evacuated due to the storm.
According to Anthony Damalerio, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 72 families were evacuated in Candijay, 28 in Jagna, 56 in Loay and 29 in Carmen.
Damalerio noted that the villages of the evacuees are known flood-prone areas.
Meanwhile, the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development started preparations to distribute relief goods to affected families.
“Naa na tay naka-pre-position nga mga relief goods,” said Damalerio.
Although no casualties and major damages have been reported so far, disaster councils in various towns remained on alert as “Basyang” continued to traverse southern Visayas and northern Mindanao.
According to Damalerio, monitoring operations will be sustained as continuous rains persist particularly in areas prone to landslides and floods.
The PDRRMO has already issued an advisory urging residents and local disaster risk management offices to take appropriate measures against possible flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recorded a total of 151 stranded passengers in Bohol’s major ports on Tuesday as sea travel in the province was suspended due to the storm.
According to PPA Tagbilaran manager Engr. James Gantalao, 68 boat passengers were stranded in Tagbilaran, 70 in Jagna and 13 in Ubay as the province remained under Storm Signal Number 1.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier ordered the suspension of sea travel in areas where storm signals were hoisted.
In its latest weather bulletin issued at 5p.m., PAGASA said that the center of Basyang was spotted 25 km southeast of Tagbilaran City.
The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.
It is forecast to move west at 27 kph. (RT)