Preemptive evacuation urged amid ‘Uwan’ threat

Local

WITH the soil still soft and saturated from last week’s deluge, Cebu City officials are urging residents not to wait for another disaster before moving to safety.

As Typhoon Uwan looms closer, authorities have called for preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas to prevent another round of casualties.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said on Saturday that the city has already instructed all barangays to activate early evacuation plans, particularly for families living near riverbanks and landslide-prone zones.

“Ato nang gi-disseminate sa tanan natong ka-barangayan nga mag-prepare na sila sa bagyo and dili magpaapike,” he said in an interview.

Tumulak said the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) will oversee the evacuation centers while barangay officials identify and monitor critical areas for possible forced evacuation if residents refuse to leave.

He urged Cebuanos to heed local advisories within the next 24 hours.

“They have to follow the instructions and warnings of the government so that malikayan pa nato ang simbakong dugang na casualties. We requested the Cebuanos to follow the barangay and local authorities, especially on preempting evacuation and especially those living along the rivers and flood-prone areas,” Tumulak said.

In preparation for Typhoon Uwan’s approach, DILG Cebu City Director Jonah Pino reminded all barangays to immediately enforce Operation Listo, the national protocol for disaster preparedness.

Among the key directives:

Convene barangay disaster councils and assess local hazards.

Mark flood- and landslide-prone zones and post visible warning signs.

Prepare evacuation centers and establish clear routes.

Keep emergency gear on standby—generators, flotation devices, flashlights, and chainsaws.

Conduct 24-hour patrol shifts for barangay tanods and rescue teams.

Carry out recorida (mobile announcements) to alert residents and provide hotlines for assistance.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Tino, Cebu City continues to deal with the lingering effects of one of the most destructive storms to hit the island in recent years.

Data from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) earlier showed that more than 15,700 residents had been displaced across the city following days of torrential rain and widespread flooding.

In the city’s northern district, 4,222 individuals (or 576 families) sought temporary refuge in 34 evacuation centers, while the southern district accommodated 11,527 individuals (or 2,063 families) in 41 sites, mostly in public schools and gymnasiums.

At least 30 casualties, including 19 fatalities, were reported in Cebu City alone due to flash floods and landslides. Provincewide, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) recorded 139 deaths and 84 injuries, with several others still unaccounted for. The OCD said these figures were subject to further validation as retrieval operations continued in the hardest-hit towns.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) had earlier reported that Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) intensified while moving over the Philippine Sea.

At 4 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, the weather bureau located Uwan’s center about 985 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, carrying maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour.(TGP)