PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — An estimated 35 families were evacuated early Thursday morning in Narra, southern Palawan in the aftermath of Tropical Depression Basyang.
Composed of 144 individuals, the families were preemptively evacuated to the town gymnasium at around 6 a.m. when river waters flooded their houses to waist-deep high.
Narra Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Assistant Disaster Officer Arlie Deles said the families have been given food and water.
Among the evacuees is 23-year old Angela Samblasiño, who had to carry her one-month-old daughter through floodwaters.
“The floodwater from the river that overflowed was almost waist-deep. This is the fourth time we evacuated,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Linapacan, vessels of the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Coast Guard Substation (CGSS) are jointly conducting a search and rescue operation for motorboat “Welmer” and its four passengers.
An incident report obtained by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) from the Naval Forces West (Navforwert) said the motorboat went missing on February 13 after departing from Sitio Inapupan, Barangay San Miguel, en route to Barangay Nangalao.
Those missing are Rhea Gugma, 20; Alma Joy Gugma, 18; Jocel Alulod, 18; and 6-month-old John Revin Gugma – all residents of Nangalao.
In the island town of Cuyo, the CGSS and the PN are also looking for motorboat “Five Star” and three alleged missing passengers, namely Jessie Acosta; 52; Jesthony Acosta, 20; and Ar-Ar Acosta, 17.
They went missing on February 14 after leaving Barangay Calandagan, Cuyo, en route to the municipality of Araceli. (PNA)
Featured photo by Keith Anthony Fabro
