Luzon residents flee Rolly’s wrath

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of residents in areas in Luzon threatened by Typhoon Rolly were evacuated to safer ground by their respective local government units even before the cyclone made landfall yesterday.

In Bulacan, 233 families sought shelter in evacuation centers in Malolos and four other towns at noon as heavy rains raised the water level in Bustos Dam.

Operators of the dam conducted preemptive water discharge, worsening floodings in several areas.

Eighteen barangays in Calumpit and 10 in Hagonoy were flooded.

In Nueva Ecija, 83 Duma-gat families were taken to a church in Barangay Malinao in Gabaldon town.

In Cagayan, roads in Tuguegarao and three other municipalities were impassable due to floodwaters spawned by Rolly.

A landslide blocked the highway in Barangay Gagabutan in Rizal town, also in Cagayan.

The province has yet to recover from last week’s floods that destroyed its rice and corn farms, and other high-value crops.

In Marinduque, a search and rescue operation was launched for a fisherman who was reported missing after he went to the sea.

John Dariel, 30, was last seen on board his motorized banca in Torrijos town on Saturday.

In Batangas, the Archdiocese of Lipa opened its doors to evacuees.

Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera ordered all parishes to accommodate people fleeing from the typhoon. – Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso, Raymund Catindig, Evelyn Macairan