Evacuation Ordered in Camarines Norte Town

LEGAZPI CITY (2 October)-The municipal government of Vinzons, Camarines Norte ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents living in the town's coastal villages.

PAGASA hoisted storm signal number 2 over Camarines Norte after Typhoon "Pepeng" had threatened the northernmost Bikol province.

As of 11:00 am today, 500 persons have been evacuated to Vinzons Pilot Elementary School in the town proper from the affected villages. The number is expected to rise, according to Michael Narido, planning officer at the Mayor's office.

Affected villages include Calangcawan Norte, Calangcawan Sur, Sula, Cagbalogo, Cagbalogo, and Sabang. The six villages face the Pacific Ocean.

The municipal government will also order the evacuation of residents living along Labo River, which is expected to overflow if the if rains continue.

Narido said they were more worried on the situation of residents in the three villages of Calaguas Islands, which is part of the town. "The islands, because of their location, usually bear the brunt of a storm passing the sea off our province," he said.

But he said the municipal government would coordinate immediately with village officials in the islands.

The municipal government has started providing relief goods to evacuees using government funds.

The municipal disaster coordinating councils of Vinzons, Labo and Mercedes, which were hard-hit by flash floods in 2007, are alerted akready in preparation for the upcoming storm.

Jonas Cabiles Soltes