While still recovering from Tropical Storm Kristine, several Batangas residents have to evacuate anew due to the threat of Super Typhoon Pepito.
A 24 Oras Weekend report by Joseph Morong on Saturday showed the destruction left by Kristine at Barangay Poblacion III in Laurel last October.
Mud and branches swept by floods have piled up in several streets and households.
Resident Rio Salamatin, whose family is already worn out from evacuation, shared that the height of the flood at their house during Kristine was higher than the average human height.
They have just finished cleaning up, but they worry of potential damages by Pepito.
“Sa Diyos na lang po kami nananalig, na sana nawa ay lumihis, huwag nang tumama rito sa kalupaan para po pare-parehong ligtas,” said Salamatin.
(We pray to God that hopefully Pepito will divert and not make landfall so that everyone will be safe.)
Nevertheless, authorities appealed to residents, especially those near the Bugaan River, to pre-emptively evacuate.
The Bugaan Bridge was among the structures in the municipality which was damaged by Kristine.
The Philippine Coast Guard – Southern Tagalog had to remove the pontoons that served as a temporary bridge to avoid being swept by flood.
Meanwhile in Barangay As-Is, about 40 families or more than 200 residents have to temporarily stay at a school during Pepito.
Batangas is on heightened alert, as the provincial government called on residents for their cooperation on evacuation.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
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