‘Basyang’ weakens but Cebu City remains on alert

Local

CEBU City will remain under red alert status even after Tropical Storm Basyang weakened into a tropical depression.

Local officials opted to keep full disaster response measures in place as heavy rains continue to pose flooding and landslide risks.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said Friday, Feb. 6, that while the city has so far avoided major damage, authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance to ensure public safety.

“So far sa atong dakbayan, we are safe as of this time,” Tumulak said.

He said personnel were prepositioned across eight strategic areas in the city, a setup adjusted based on lessons learned from previous storms.

“Bisan pa og nag-overprepare ta, as long as safe lang ang mga tawo,” he said.

Despite Pagasa lowering the warning signal, Tumulak said the city has not downgraded its alert level, as rescue teams, equipment, and manpower remain on standby.

The red alert status, he added, will only be lifted once weather conditions clearly improve. “Unless nga makita nato nga sunny day,” Tumulak said when asked when the alert might be downgraded.

Tumulak said a small number of residents from four mountain barangays evacuated earlier as a precaution due to strong winds and rain. These were mostly areas previously affected by flooding, excluding Lusaran and Bacayan, which are now classified as no-build zones.

“Karon, namalik na pud sila sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka panimalay,” he said.

He added that evacuees have since returned home as conditions stabilized.

As of Friday, the city has not recorded any major storm-related incidents, Tumulak said. He confirmed there were no reports of flooding, serious damage, or casualties.

However, the city has deployed additional disaster response teams to southern Cebu as a precautionary move. Rescue, clearing, and search-and-rescue teams, along with boom trucks, were dispatched to assist in case of fallen trees or blocked roads.

Tumulak said Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro had been informed of the deployment.

While no landslides have been reported so far, Tumulak warned that risks remain high in upland barangays, particularly after the rains subside.

“Mag-expect mi landslide ugma,” he said. He explained that saturated soil conditions could still trigger slope failures, although he noted these are not expected to be as severe as those caused by Tropical Storm Tino last year.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, Pagasa said Tropical Depression Basyang continues to affect Cebu City, which remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1. While wind speeds are expected to range from 39 to 61 kilometers per hour, authorities said moderate to heavy rainfall remains the primary concern, with possible flooding and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas.

Earlier, the Cebu City Government ordered the suspension of work in City Hall and other government offices starting 2 p.m. Friday.

Essential services, however, will continue to operate. Private companies were encouraged to follow the suspension to allow employees to travel home safely.(TGP)