Pangasinan: A total of 788 families, or 2,462 individuals, in Pangasinan province were evacuated from their flooded residences early Wednesday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported. The evacuees were from the municipalities of Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Urbiztondo, Calasiao, Mangatarem, and Bani, as well as Dagupan City, PDRRMO emergency operation center team leader, Maegan Equila, said in a phone interview.
According to Philippines News Agency, rescue operations are ongoing in some areas, and the number of evacuees may still rise. A red alert status has been raised in the province as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, indicating severe conditions. A total of 116 villages out of the 1,364 in the province are inundated, with the highest floodwater level recorded at 5 feet in Barangay Talibaew, Calasiao.
Equila reported that 132,397 families, comprising 428,201 individuals in Pangasinan, have been affected by the flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the southwest monsoon. While no confirmed disaster-related casualties have been reported, two drowning incidents in Binmaley and Sta. Barbara are under verification.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant, as water from the upland areas continues to flow downstream into river systems, and a new weather disturbance could bring more heavy rainfall. The weather bureau has issued an 11 a.m. bulletin stating that the low-pressure area west of the Babuyan Islands has developed into Tropical Depression Emong, while 'Dante,' located east of Extreme Northern Luzon, has intensified into a tropical storm, expected to enhance the southwest monsoon.
As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, several rivers, including the Marusay River in Calasiao, Balingcaguing River in Mabini, Agno/Ba±aga River in Bugallon, and Pantal River in Dagupan City are above critical level. The Bued/Cayanga River in San Fabian is above normal level, while the Sinucalan River in Sta. Barbara is at critical level. Several roads in Alaminos City and other municipalities are impassable due to flooding.
