ILIGAN CITY — Towns and provinces lashed by Tropical Storm “Vinta” (international name: Tembin) in Mindanao last week are bracing for another beating from a new storm headed their way as officials on Sunday reported fresh evacuations from areas that were again flooded by heavy rains. Abeliza Manzano, Lanao del Norte disaster management officer, could not immediately give the number of new evacuees as authorities were still dealing with 7,436 individuals from 1,797 families displaced by Vinta from four towns. Paulina Gadiano, Pagadian’s local government operations officer, said Manuel Luis Ochotorena, Western Mindanao chief of the Office of Civil Defense, ordered a regionwide activation of all operations center. In Zamboanga City, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Elmer Apolinario reported the completion of a predisaster risk assessment on Sunday and emergency provisions had been prepositioned. Local officials and disaster officers in southern Mindanao, where Vinta left one dead and displaced a large number of people, advised residents, especially in landslide and flood-prone areas, to be on alert and heed evacuation orders.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 31, 2017 22:52 UTC