Tropical Depression Verbena – which has since intensified into a tropical storm – on Tuesday caused flashfloods that covered or swept away houses in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Aileen Pedreso on Tuesday in “24 Oras,” the floods have already subsided in parts of Bacolod City. More people are continuing to evacuate as rescue operations continue.
In Purok Carvic in Barangay Mandalagan, houses were submerged in chest-deep floods. Several residents were not able to save their belongings, while some pets were evacuated to safety in higher places.
Residents of Barangay 39 were left with no other choice but to climb the roofs of their houses to save themselves.
In Barangay Singcang-Airport, Philippine Red Cross rescuers used rubber boats to navigate areas submerged in roof-high floods. Rescuers carefully assisted residents stranded on their roofs in getting to the rubber boats as they were precariously close to electric cables.
Some residents chose to seek shelter in a nearby church amid the floods caused by Verbena.
“I’m already sick, but this happened to us. We have yet to eat anything,” said Rosavelia Danieres in the vernacular.
Said Rizalina Numbra: “It’s just disappointing that the assistance for Typhoon Tino has yet to come, then this storm came in.”
In Barangay 40, the strong current of the floods washed away some houses.
“It hurts because we were not able to save anything. Not even our clothes, table, electric fan, we were not able to save any of them,” said Mara Morales.
In Purok Consuelo in Barangay Villamonte, a resident captured on video how the raging flood swept away and practically swallowed a house.
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), 26 barangays were hit by the floods, with 2,000 families affected.
Some major roads in Iloilo City were also submerged in floods, forcing some commuters to wade through the floods just to get home from work.
“Flooding is always expected here. But I just walked home because my house is nearby,” said Christine Mie Cabug.
According to the Iloilo City local government unit (LGU), 30 barangays were submerged in floods due to the heavy rains from Verbena. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News