Close to 400,000 Pampanga residents affected by “Egay”

By Ronron
August 17, 2007

Close to 400,000 people from Pampanga province were affected by typhoon “Egay” (International Code: Sepat), which has been bringing in rains in most parts of Luzon and some parts of Visayas in the last three days.

According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), 372,458 persons, representing 78,311 families from 20 municipalities in Pampanga, have been affected to due to heavy flooding.

The affected areas are Lubao, Arayat, Masantol, Apalit, San Luis, Mabalacat, Magalang, Floridablanca, Minalin, Mexico, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Candaba, Sta. Ana, Guagua, Bacolor, Sta. Rita, San Simon, Sto. Tomas and San Fernando City.

Of the affected persons, 184 families or 1,017 were evacuated: 104 families/648 persons from Mexico; nine families/78 persons from Sasmuan; six families/19 persons from Guagua; and, 65 families/272 persons from Bacolor, the NDCC said.

“These evacuees are presently housed at Day Care Centers, Barangay Halls, Barangay chapels, cockpit arena, and public market in the province,” the NDCC report said.

The NDCC report said 70 houses were damaged in said province – 35 totally and 35 partially – but it did not specify the cause.

Some roads and a portion of the bridge in the province were rendered impassable due to the flood.

The NDCC said the floodwater is already slowly subsiding.

As of 5pm yesterday, the government weather station placed the Batanes Group of Islands under Public Storm Signal Warning No. 3; the Babuyan Group of Islands under Signal No. 2; and, Cagayan, Isabela, Northern Aurora, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and Abra under Signal No. 1.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) reported that “Egay” has weakened slightly as it continued to move away from the country in the northwest direction, heading towards Taiwan.

Due to the continuous rains, there were no classes yesterday at all levels in Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental.

Government work in Metro Manila was also suspended starting 1pm.

For today (Saturday), the NDCC said classes at all levels in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan will also be cancelled.

All units of the National Capital Region Command of the miltiayr, are still on red alert status and were placed on standby in their respective stations.

The Department of Social welfare and Development said it has a standby fund and stockpile of relief commodities amounting to P16,458,811.74 for disaster augmentation assistance.

PAGASA said weather is expected to improve on Sunday./DMS