IN PHOTOS: Tropical storm Kristine devastates parts of PH with heavy rains, high floods
Several parts of the Philippines have been devastated by heavy rains and high floods brought about by Tropical Storm Kristine.
According to an 11:00 a.m. update by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Oct. 24, the city of Batangas is now under the red warning level, which could mean serious flooding in flood-prone areas. Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon are meanwhile under the orange warning alert, where flooding is still threatening.
Since it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Oct. 21 as tropical depression, Kristine has escalated into a storm and has resulted in severe damages in property due to its intense downpour.
Thousands of residents in Luzon were forced to evacuate to safety.
According to a Philippine News Agency report, the number of evacuees in Albay reached a total of 17,095 individuals across several towns and cities.
This is even higher for the municipality of of Camarines Sur, where 22,068 families or 101,148 persons had to be moved to evacuation centers, per ANC.
The tropical storm has also resulted in several casualties.
In Bicol, 20 people have died due to drowning, landslides, and fallen trees, according to authorites in a Super Radyo dzBB report. Seven fatalities were reported in Naga, five in Catanduanes, four in Albay, and one each in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
Kristine is expected to cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region in the afternoon of Oct. 24.
It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, Oct. 25.
