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Reports from the ground show stranded residents with their farm animals and pets, landslides blocking access to some villages, and continuous rescue and road clearing operations
MANILA, Philippines – Bicol has been one of the hardest hit regions as Tropical Storm Kristine continued to move north northwest, causing heavy rainfall, massive flooding, and landslides in its wake.
On Sunday, October 20 — the same day Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility– the Office of Civil Defense raised the red alert status in the region.
Reports from the ground show stranded residents with their farm animals and pets, landslides blocking access to some villages, and continuous rescue and road clearing operations.
Extensive flooding prompted a deluge of rescue calls, overwhelming the rescue teams, according to the Philippine Information Agency office in the region.
Local officials have advised residents yet to be rescued to stay on safe, elevated areas as rescue teams try their best to respond.
A total of 92 areas across five regions, Bicol included, are inundated, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) report as of 8 am on Wednesday, October 23.
Aside from documentation of Kristine’s impact, calls for donations and help have been circulating in social media to help affected people in the province.
(READ: #ReliefPH: How to help communities affected by Tropical Storm Kristine)
NDRRMC reported over 380,000 individuals affected across four regions. The number is expected to rise further as local governments update with reports of numbers of families successfully evacuated and rescued.
In Camarines Sur alone, Governor Luigi Villafuerte posted on Wednesday that 21,300 families or 95,300 individuals have evacuated, while 301 individuals were rescued.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration expects Kristine to intensify into a severe tropical storm. Kristine could make landfall over Isabela on Wednesday night.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a situation briefing with his Cabinet on Wednesday morning, called departments to prepare and follow regular procedure as “this is just the beginning.”
– with reports from Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com
