A shear line weather system brought intense rains to several parts of the country over the weekend, triggering floods that displaced families, disrupted communities, and prompted urgent rescue operations, particularly in Palawan.
“We are advising affected residents to take extra precautions as localized flooding and landslides may occur because of continuous rains in the last few days,” PAGASA weather specialist Chenel Dominguez said in a briefing.
She added that aside from the shear line, the northeast monsoon and the easterlies were also influencing weather patterns in different parts of the country.
“The three weather systems continue to affect the country,” Dominguez explained. “The northeast monsoon or amihan will persist in a big portion of the country, while the easterlies, or warm wind from the Pacific Ocean, will affect Mindanao.
The shear line will impact Quezon, Aurora, the Bicol region, and Mimaropa. It will also bring rains to Palawan and the Visayas. Caraga will be affected by the easterlies.”
More than 365 residents sought shelter at Manuel Austria Memorial Elementary School in Barangay San Manuel and Gregorio Oquendo Memorial School in Barangay Milagrosa, where they received hot meals, emergency aid, and medical assistance.
The PCG District Palawan mobilized at least 81 personnel from its Deployable Response Group, Special Operations Group, and PCG Station Central Palawan to assist in rescue efforts across seven barangays. A Facebook post from PCG District Palawan confirmed that by 7 a.m. Monday, 91 families had been evacuated to safety.
“The mission remains focused on ensuring public safety, conducting rescue operations as needed, and providing immediate assistance to affected families and individuals,” the Coast Guard said in the statement.
The PRC-Palawan chapter, meanwhile, deployed its own response teams to rescue 30 people in Barangay San Manuel. It also established welfare desks in multiple evacuation centers to ensure evacuees had access to food and basic necessities.
Moderate to heavy rains are expected to continue until at least Wednesday in Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. With water levels rising and the ground becoming increasingly saturated, authorities remain on high alert for further flooding and possible landslides.
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