Manila, Sep 14 (EUROPA PRESS) – More than 3,000 people have been evacuated in the Philippines due to the passage of tropical storm ‘Bebinca’ –’Ferdie’ in the nomenclature of the Philippine authorities–, according to the Philippines Risk Management and Reduction Council.
In total, 4,464 families – some 14,215 people – have been affected by the storm in the Western Visayas Islands, the Dabao region and Soccsksargen.
There are 1,070 families – 3,408 people – who have had to leave their homes and have been accommodated in 74 temporary evacuation centres. Another 219 families – 745 individuals – have been accommodated in the homes of friends or relatives.
Authorities have reported flooding in 40 locations in Palawan, Antique, Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani.
“It has been raining continuously in Western Visayas and western Mindanao and we have urged the population to be prepared and alert,” said Civil Defense spokesman Edgar Posadas.
The Army has mobilized disaster response units from the 3rd Infantry Division and the 62nd Infantry Battalion to evacuate 30 families from La Castellana, Negros Occidental due to the storm and seismic activity from the Kanlaon Volcano.
“The storm has brought heavy rain and winds to the province and the Kanlaon volcano has increased sulphur dioxide emissions,” said Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines. There have also been power outages.
Authorities have distributed aid worth 921 million pesos (about 14.8 million pesos) to affected families with food, shelter and kitchen supplies.
