Several areas in Albay have been severely affected by intense flooding as tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami) continues to lash the province with strong winds and heavy rains. The tropical storm has placed Albay under a state of calamity, with local authorities warning of potential widespread damage.
In its latest update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Kristine is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gusts of up to 90 km/h. The storm was last tracked 345 kilometers east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, moving northwest at 10 km/h.
Areas in Albay are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 and 2. The Albay Provincial Information Office (PIO) announced the declaration of a state of calamity on Tuesday following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). “This follows the anticipated impact of Kristine and the potential damage it may cause to various sectors in the province,” the PIO stated.
Flooding has reached critical levels in some areas, with residents sharing the devastation on social media. In a video posted by Don Declaro Sacueza Jr., floodwaters in Brgy. Bonbon, Libon have risen nearly to the roofs of homes. “It looks like an ocean here,” Sacueza described the scene.
In Tiwi, the detour road in Brgy. Nagas, which connects Tiwi and Malinao, collapsed due to heavy flooding and is now impassable. Rescue operations are ongoing across the province as authorities work to ensure the safety of affected residents.
