Catanduanes Evacuates to Higher Ground

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Oct. 2 --Governor Joseph Cua today ordered the evacuation of families from different coastal baranggays and other low-lying areas in the province as typhoon "Pepeng" started to dump heavy rains.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC)was convened after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared that "Pepeng" would affect the province.

The Disaster Operations Center was also set up on a 24-hour basis.

Warnings and advisories have been sent to all municipalities in the morning, Friday.

Transport trucks are now on stand by at the capitol compound for emergency purposes.

The province's rescue team, Catanduanes Emergency Search and Rescue Team (CREST), is now on full alert status for any incident that may happen as typhoon 'Pepeng' comes closer in the province.

The province's amateur radio groups, Kabalikat and DX4-ARCC, are also on disaster operation mode.

As of press time, 785 families, or 3,751 persons in the towns of Bato and San Miguel have been evacuated to higher grounds. Bato has 388 families or 1,840 persons evacuees; Virac, 309 families,or 1,545 persons; and San Miguel, 88 families or 466 persons.

Road access in the different municipalities are now impassible due to landslide. Roads affected by landslide include Bagamanoc Km. 86+500; Mabel-Tokyo, Km. 79+100; Magsaysay-Mabel; and Caramoran, Dariao-Tabli Km. 145+160.

Inalmasinan river and South Panabananon Bocon spillway remained impassable due to recurring landslide ,floods, and mudslide.

Gigmoto and Baras road access, however, remained passable to all types of vehicles. Pandan, San Andres, Viga and San Miguel roads are hardly passable due to floods.

A total of 498 passengers were stranded at the port of Tabaco.

The provincial government was providing immediate assistance to 498 ship passengers who were stranded here on their way to port of Tabaco. (PNA)