Bicol residents seek rescue amid Kristine floods

Hundreds of residents in Legazpi City and nearby towns spent Tuesday night on their roofs awaiting rescue due to severe flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Residents from Libon and Polangui used social media to request help as floodwaters reached the rooftops of their homes, with videos showing cries for help echoing amid dark, high floodwaters.

Disaster management teams had to suspend rescue operations late Tuesday evening because many personnel were also stranded due to flooding and landslides. Over 22 persons were rescued in Cabangan, Legazpi City while others sought safety by wading through surging floodwaters.

On Wednesday morning, Mayor Das Maronilla in Albay requested assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard to aid residents in affected barangays like Sta. Cruz and Bonbon, where houses were reportedly submerged by chest-deep floods.

In Camarines Sur's Naga City, Mayor Nelson Legacion appealed for motorized boats to rescue families trapped in flooded villages such as Tinago and Dayangdang, with rescuers overcoming strong flood currents to help trapped residents.

The Biak na Bato Bridge collapsed along with another bridge connecting the towns of Tiwi and Malinaw, while lahars and stones from Mayon Volcano buried some parts of Guinobatan. A 36-year-old man was buried by a landslide in Ligao City, but no casualties were reported as residents managed to evacuate earlier.

As of Wednesday evening, Signal No. 3 has been raised over the Bicol region with PAGASA warning of possible intensification before landfall over Isabela on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.