By Henry Empeño | July 24, 2024 (As of 6:00 p.m.)

IBA, Zambales — A total of 883 families composed of 2,374 individuals were evacuated to safety on Wednesday as Typhoon Carina in the last three days whipped up incessant monsoon rains that flooded areas in at least nine of the 13 towns of Zambales.

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that 30 barangays in the province experienced flooding, with the deepest recorded at 7.68 feet in the coastal village of Naulo in Santa Cruz town.

In view of the continuing inclement weather, Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Wednesday ordered the suspension of work in all government offices and schools, as well as private agencies, offices and schools throughout the province due to the continuing inclement weather brought about by the typhoon.

PDRRMO Head Rolex Estella said that as of 6 p.m. on Monday, the greatest number of evacuees was recorded in Botolan with 825 individuals from 349 families in 15 barangays; followed by Iba town with 561 individuals from 170 families in six barangays, Cabangan with 369 individuals from 123 families in eight barangays; Subic with 263 persons from 80 families in seven barangays, and San Narciso with 245 persons from 116 families in four barangays.

The other towns that recorded residents sheltering temporarily in evacuation centers are: Santa Cruz with 58 families composed of 162 individuals; Masinloc, 48 families with 107 persons; Castillejos, 27 families, 78 persons; and Candelaria, 1 family of 3 individuals

Most of the communities that remained flooded were in Botolan town, with 11 areas under two to three feet of floodwaters; Palauig with seven areas; the capital town of Iba with six barangays under water; Cabangan with five; Santa Cruz with four; and Subic with three.

Estella said Gov. Ebdane ordered the preventive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas to reduce the chances of having to mount risky search and rescue operations amid flooding at nighttime.

The evacuees, who are mostly housed in school rooms and barangay halls, also received food packs from the office of the governor.

Estella added that PDRRMO operatives also evacuated the remains of a departed when floodwaters threatened to disrupt the wake held at Barangay Paco in Botolan. The rescue team braved waist-deep floodwaters to bring the casket to the Botolan People’s Plaza, more than a kilometer away.

Aside from causing the evacuation of residents, heavy rains also caused a minor landslide at Sitio Itanglew, Barangay San Rafael, damaged slope protection in Barangay Linasin, and a dike and bridge approach in Barangay Santa Fe, all in in San Marcelino. A hanging bridge was also partially destroyed in Santa Cruz town.

In Sitio Tektek, Barangay Laoag, San Felipe town, raging swells along the coast destroyed the sea wall and eroded the coastal road that was built to protect the seaside community.

The MV Hyperline 988, a foreign aggregate carrier that ran aground in the area after being detained by the Philippine Coast Guard for deficiencies and unauthorized anchorage, was also reported to have floundered at the coast of Tektek due to heavy seas. 