Flood shuts down highway in Antique town

Floodwaters surround homes in Hamtic, Antique on Friday, July 24, after continuous heavy rains brought by the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) inundated several communities. Local authorities launched rescue and evacuation operations as water levels continued to rise. Photo courtesy of Hamtic MDRRMO via Hazel Villa Residents of a flooded community in Hamtic, Antique remain surrounded by muddy floodwaters as incessant monsoon rains submerged residential areas early Friday, July 24. Authorities urged residents in flood-prone areas to heed evacuation advisories. Photo courtesy of Hamtic MDRRMO via Hazel Villa Heavy flooding along the national highway in Hamtic, Antique forced authorities to halt the movement of all types of vehicles before dawn on Friday, July 24. Police also warned motorists that portions of the highway were rendered impassable by flooding and a landslide. Photo courtesy of Hamtic MDRRMO via Hazel Villa ILOILO CITY — Rescue teams evacuated flood-stricken families in the municipality of Hamtic, Antique before dawn on Friday, July 24, as persistent rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) inundated several villages, rendered a major highway impassable, and forced the suspension of face-to-face classes. Personnel from the Hamtic Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), together with members of the Hamtic Fire Station, conducted rescue operations at around 5 a.m. in Barangays Mapatag and Funda, where families were stranded by rising floodwaters. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador to safely evacuate affected residents and provide immediate assistance to those trapped by the flooding. Article continues after this advertisement READ: GenSan imposes forced evacuation due to flash floods Authorities also issued a public advisory declaring the Calala section of the national highway in Hamtic impassable to all types of vehicles because of flooding brought about by continuous heavy rainfall. Motorists were urged to avoid the area and postpone non-essential travel as floodwaters continued to cover the roadway. In a separate advisory, local officials warned travelers bound for Iloilo that another section of the national highway between Barangay Calala and neighboring Barangay Apdo had also become impassable after a landslide struck the area. Residents and motorists were advised to remain vigilant while weather conditions remain unstable. With heavy rains continuing across the municipality, Pacificador ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes on Friday for preschool to senior high school students in both public and private schools. Article continues after this advertisement The local government said the suspension was implemented as a precautionary measure to protect students from hazards posed by flooding and the enhanced southwest monsoon. The Hamtic MDRRMO continues to monitor the situation and urged residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to stay alert, follow evacuation advisories, and contact emergency responders through its hotline if immediate assistance is needed. INQ Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.