The Naga City Government on Wednesday appealed for the urgent use of rescue equipment, including trucks, pump boats, and other resources, to reinforce rescue operations in areas affected by Tropical Storm Kristine, which battered the Bicol Region.
According to the Naga City LGU, the city’s rescue operations are currently overwhelmed by rising floodwaters caused by the tropical storm.
“We are urgently in need of trucks and assets from government and private sectors that can navigate floodwaters between 3 to 6 feet deep,” the LGU announced in a Facebook post.
Individuals with vehicles suitable for rescue operations are encouraged to report immediately to Naga City’s Incident Management Team at the Public Safety Office located within the City Hall Compound.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Leni Robredo, a resident of Naga City, took to social media to request pump boats, noting that many of the rescue trucks have become inoperable due to flooding.
“Reiterating our urgent plea for pump boats. People have been stuck on roofs of their houses for several hours now. Many of our rescue trucks have stalled due to the floods,” Robredo’s post read.
The Naga City LGU stated that rescue operations are still underway in heavily flooded areas of the city. The following locations have been identified for rescue efforts:
- Camella, Del Rosario, Naga City (3 teams)
- Dona Clara, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City (1 team)
- San Antonio, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City (1 team)
- Villa Karangahan, San Felipe, Naga City (1 team)
- CLUPA, Calauag, Naga City (1 team)
- Zone 3 and 4, Triangulo, Naga City (1 team)
The LGU also urged residents in need of rescue to contact them immediately through the contact numbers provided on its official pages for assistance.
Heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Kristine caused floods in Bicol and other parts of the country on Tuesday, October 22.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla directed local government units (LGUs) in Luzon on Tuesday to brace for Kristine, which is expected to lash parts of the region later this week.
At a press briefing in Malacañang, Remulla stated that all LGUs have been mobilized and informed about Kristine’s possible track.
“The final path is not yet determined – there’s one path that goes up north and another that goes to Central Luzon. We will know later tonight which exact path it will follow,” he said. “All local government units and civil defense units have been alerted, and I believe we’re prepared.”
Remulla also advised concerned LGUs to suspend classes at all levels—both public and private—on October 22 and 23 due to expected inclement weather. He recommended canceling sea travel in Luzon as well.
For its part, the Office of Civil Defense assured readiness on Tuesday through its regional and provincial offices for the expected effects of Kristine in various parts of the country over the next few days.
