'Gener' kills 1, displaces hundreds as rains spawn flashfloods

By: Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com
July 29, 2012 6:25 AM

Water lilies litter the Manila Yatch Club as Gener slams Metro Manila. Cagayan province and the Calayan and Babuyan island groups are under Signal No. 2, as PAGASA alerted against possible big waves and storm surges generated by the storm, as well as flashfloods and landslides. BERNARD TESTA, INTERAKSYON.COM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED 9:57PM) Tropical storm 'Gener' dumped rains over a huge part of Luzon and Metro Manila, and portions of the Visayas on Sunday, spawning flashfloods, raising the spilling alarm for dams, killing one person and displacing hundreds.

It continued to strengthen Sunday afternoon, posing 'intense danger' to extreme Northern Luzon, even as PAGASA raised the "yellow alert" over Metro Manila, where moderate to heavy rains were pouring for several hours.

Storm signal number 2 remains hoisted over the areas of Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes Group of Islands. Storm signal number one is raised over Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao.

At least one person died, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. The fatality was identified as Ronald Necor, 33, who drowned in Bugasong, Antique last Saturday.

"Gener" also affected 424 families or 1,792 persons in Paniqui, Tarlac and Hinoba-an and Bago City in Negros Occidental. Of these, 238 families have evacuated to the local elementary school in their area.

Roads shut down, flights cancelled

The storm also closed down several roads in Luzon and forced the cancellation of several domestic flights. In Benguet, the Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road (Alapang Section) is closed due to continuous rains. The Benguet-Viscaya Road (Guisset Section) was also closed down due to falling rocks. The NDRRMC said the particular road section is both a land- and rockslide-prone area.

The following roads in the Mt. Province and Ifugao areas were also closed down: - Mt. Province-Ifugao - closed due to rockslide; Banaue to Lagawe road.

In Palawan, the Detour Bridge in Brgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa City has been closed to all types of vehicles as well as the Makalatiaw and Concepcion Bridge in Brgy. San Rafael, Busuanga. Rains also closed down the Provincial Road in Brgy. Cheey also in Busuanga.

The NDRRMC also reported that the Talusungan Bridge 2 in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro is no longer passable to both small and heavy vehicles.

Dam levels watched

Authorities are continuously monitoring the dam levels across the country as some dams have already reached spilling levels due to incessant rains. The La Mesa Dam has a reported level of 79.59 meters, close to the spilling level of 80.15 meters. "The continuing increase of the water elevation of La Mesa Dam causing excess water to overflow is expected to affect the low-lying areas along the Tullahan River, Fairview, Novaliches and the CAMANAVA area. All the residents living in the aforementioned areas are advised to be alert for possible increase in the water level downstream," the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, the Ipo Dam has reported a decrease in water levels from the 100.80 meters reported at 6 a.m. Sunday down to 100.57 meters as of 12 p.m. Sunday. However, this level is still close to the spilling level of 100.80 meters.

Binga Dam is also nearing spilling level at 574.47 meters. Spilling level is at 575 meters.

Heavy rains recorded

PAGASA said as of 6 p.m., 4.0 to 9.4 mm per hour of rains were recorded in Tanay, Rizal; Port Area, Manila and Science Garden, Quezon City. Such amount of rainfall is likely to continue for the next hour, PAGASA said.

Residents living in low-lying areas and near river channels were alerted of possible flooding. "People are advised to monitor the weather condition and watch out for the next warning," PAGASA said.

A total of 17 domestic flights to and from various parts of Luzon and Visayas were cancelled due to bad weather. Operations of ferry boats in Magapit, Lallo, Cagayan were also suspended due to the strong current of the Cagayan River.

Power down in Bicol

The NDRRMC reported that some villages in the municipalities of Pandan, Caramoran and Viga in Catanduanes experienced power failure since 12 a.m. In Barangay Batolinao, Baras, Catanduanes, water supply was cut due to the malfunctioning of water pipes. Power has been restored in Dumaguete City, Bayawan City, Siaton and Zamboangita in Negros Oriental.

Tropical storm 'Gener' continued to strengthen Sunday afternoon, posing 'intense danger' to extreme Northern Luzon, even as PAGASA raised the "yellow alert" over Metro Manila, where moderate to heavy rains have been pouring the past hour.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has raised the "yellow warning" signal over at Metro Manila as moderate to heavy rains have been observed in the past hour.

Residents living in low-lying areas and near river channels were alerted of possible flooding.

"People are advised to monitor the weather condition and watch out for the next warning," PAGASA said.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Gener's center was located 380 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan. "Gener" has further intensified and now packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

"Gener" has sped up slowly and is moving north northwest at 15 kph. "Gener" brings with it heavy to intense rains in areas within its 700-kilometer diameter. Residents were alerted against landslides and flashfloods.

Earllier, in its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the center of the storm was last tracked 310 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora and was moving north-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

Gener was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center with gusts of up to 100 kph.

Storm signal No. 1 was up over Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao and Batanes.

PAGASA said residents of areas under Signal No. 2 are alerted against possible big waves and storm surges generated by the storm, as well as flashfloods and landslides.

"Gener" will be bringing heavy to intense rains within its 600-kilometer diameter and “enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, especially the western section."

Fishing boats are advised against going out to sea.

PAGASA said "Gener" is expected to be 230 kilometers northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Monday morning and 210 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday morning.