Tropical Storm Kristine brings severe floods over Bicol region; resident says it's the worst flooding in 30 years
The Bicol region has experienced severe flooding due to Tropical Storm Kristine, with a resident noting it's the most they've seen in 30 years.
In a Facebook Live on Oct. 23, the local Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shared a first-person video where the speaker appears to be on top of a roof along Panganiban Drive in Naga as he shows the knee-deep floodwaters.
The speaker then pointed to the roads, noting that the floodwaters there had already exceeded the height of an average person.
"Hanggang ngayon ay patuloy pa rin ang bugso ng hangin dito," he said, adding that there are still rains though not as much as last night.
Hours before the live video, Bicol's Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) on Facebook said the severe flooding prevented rescuers from responding to affected areas, particularly Camarines Sur, Albay, and Naga.
It advised residents to seek temporary shelter as it was trying to prioritize rescues.
The RDRRMC, on Oct. 21, placed the region under red alert status or the Charlie protocol, which, it said, "signifies the highest state of emergency preparedness, necessitating immediate action from both the RDRRMC and Local DRRMCs to protect communities and ensure an effective and timely response."
In a Facebook post on the evening of Oct. 22, Mylce Mella, founder of community news organization BicoldotPH, said no one "could have imagined or expected this prolonged, continuous downpour and heavy rainfall, which has lasted for over 24 hours."
"While Bicolanos are no strangers to storms, this one is different—it has brought the most severe flooding we’ve seen in 30 years. Areas that previously had no flooding are now facing serious devastation," Mella said, adding the situation in Naga was "particularly critical."
She warned that Naga's location in a river basin below sea level "makes it especially prone to worsening conditions."
"Over the next few days, runoff from higher areas like Albay and Rinconada will funnel into Naga and nearby towns such as Milaor and Minalabac, further compounding the flooding," she added.
Naga Mayor Son Legacion said rescue operations in heavily flooded areas continued early Wednesday morning.
Legacion, however, asked for patience as rescue teams "are still overwhelmed with rescue requests since yesterday."
"But rest assured that we are doing everything possible under the circumstances," he said. "And your request will be acted soonest once the next rescue team has completed its task."
Past midnight, former vice president and Naga resident Leni Robredo on Facebook reiterated the urgent plea for pump boats, as people have been stuck on roofs of their houses for several hours.
Robredo noted that many of their rescue trucks had stalled due to the floods.
In another post, she said the nonprofit organization Angat Buhay is in touch with its institutional partners who can provide immediate support to Bicol.
She also shared bank details for a donation drive in partnership with Kaya Natin and Jesse Robredo Foundation.
The local government of Naga on Tuesday evening also expressed its need for "trucks and assets from the government and private sector that can navigate floodwaters between three to six feet deep."
In Catanduanes, strong winds damaged at least 37 houses in a residential area in the town of Caramoan.
In Isabela, where Kristine is forecast to make landfall, Magat Dam has started to release water.
What to know about Tropical Storm Kristine
State weather bureau PAGASA, in an 8 a.m. advisory, warned that a moderate to high risk of storm surge, or flooding due to rise of sea water, may occur in the next 48 hours in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.
Signal number 2 is in effect in more than 20 areas in Luzon and Kristine may intensify within the day as it’s expected to make landfall later or early tom.
In its 8 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Kristine is forecast to move northwestward for the next 12 hours. It will make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora tonight, if not early Thursday morning, Oct. 24.
Tomorrow afternoon, it will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region.
Kristine may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, Oct. 25.
