Three drown in Albay floods

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales said that he will declare a state of s calamity in four barangays in Libon and another three barangays in Oas town, Albay due to heavy flooding as the bodies of three persons who drowned during the flashfloods were recovered.

Gonzales said that a state of calamity will be declared in barangays Caisa, San Agustin, Paklas and Zone 4, all in Libon town and in barangays Ilaor Sur, Busac and Mayao in Oas town in Albay’s third district.

"With the declaration, local officials of these affected towns and barangays can avail of the five percent calamity fund to help their affected constituents," said Gonzales.

The heavy rains that started Sept. 14 had already caused about P75 million in crop damage.

Cedric Daep, head of the Provincial Public Safety and Management Office (PPSEMO), said the heavy flooding was caused by a combination of intertropical convergence zone and low pressure area for the past six days.

Daep said that the body of nine-year-old Jemerio Reonal Jr., a resident of Centro Poblacion in Oas town was recovered in an irrigation dam in Barangay Busac. Reonal was missing since Sept. 17 at around 1:30 p.m. after he was swept by rampaging waters.

Meanwhile, the bodies of Efren, 45; and Jefrey Napili, 18; were also recovered last Sept.16 after they were caught by flashfloods while catching fish near the mouth of the Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave at about 4 p.m. on Sept. 15, according to Dr. Julian Salazar, officer-in-charge of the Albay Provincial Health Office.

Damage to provincial infrastructure reached P74.45 million.