Work, classes disrupted as Metro Cebu flooded anew

Local

FLOODWATERS again inundated parts of Metro Cebu on Friday, July 31, forcing local governments to suspend classes and order early dismissals.

The state weather bureau, however, clarified that the rains affecting the region were still considered part of the normal rainy season and were primarily caused by localized thunderstorms.

By early Friday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)-Visayas placed several areas in Metro Cebu under a Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning, signaling possible flooding in low-lying communities and landslides in mountainous areas.

As of 1:04 p.m., the warning covered Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Talisay City, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Balamban, Danao City, and Asturias.

The rest of Cebu remained under a rainfall advisory for light to moderate rains with occasional heavy downpours expected to persist for two to three hours.

The warning came a day after nearly four hours of torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across Cebu City and neighboring areas, stranding commuters, trapping students inside schools, and prompting emergency response operations.

Despite Friday's renewed flooding, Pagasa -Visayas Weather Services Chief Engineer Alfredo Quiblat Jr. said Thursday's rains were not caused by a major weather disturbance but by localized thunderstorms, a common occurrence during the peak of the rainy season.

"Ordinary ra man to. Localized thunderstorm," Quiblat said when asked to assess Thursday's weather event.

He explained that rainfall varied across Metro Cebu, although weather stations recorded heavy rainfall in some areas, including Mactan.

Based on PAGASA data, the Mactan rain gauge measured 22.2 millimeters of rainfall between around 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday.

Quiblat said the widespread rains experienced across Metro Cebu on Thursday were still attributable to localized thunderstorms, noting that the trough of the monitored low-pressure area had yet to significantly influence the weather at that time.

"The low pressure area's trough is only affecting us now. Yesterday, it was really localized thunderstorms," he said.

Quiblat said residents should expect similar weather conditions in the coming months since July and August are traditionally the peak months for afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

He explained that even without tropical cyclones, the intertropical convergence zone, or a nearby low-pressure area, cumulonimbus clouds can rapidly develop during the day, producing sudden and intense downpours.

"These localized thunderstorms have a high chance of occurring even without a major weather system. Sometimes the rain comes suddenly and intensely because of cumulonimbus cloud development," he said.

He added that the rainy season runs from June to November, making intermittent heavy afternoon rains typical during this period.

Quiblat also said Pagasa continues to monitor a low pressure area outside the country but assessed that it has a low probability of developing into a tropical cyclone.

He added that the weather disturbance is expected to remain nearly stationary before eventually dissipating and is unlikely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

However, its trough or extension may continue bringing cloudiness, light to moderate rains, and occasional thunderstorms over parts of the Visayas.

By 2:02 p.m. Friday, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) reported flooding in several parts of the city.

Knee-deep floodwaters were monitored near Family Park in Barangay Talamban, while another knee-deep flooding incident was reported at Il Corso in the South Road Properties.

Authorities also continued monitoring the SRP U-turn slot due to rising water.

The renewed flooding came less than 24 hours after at least 16 areas in Cebu City were inundated by Thursday's heavy rains, with floodwaters reaching chest-deep in some communities and forcing emergency evacuations.

As heavy rains persisted Friday, several local government units ordered or recommended early dismissal of classes to ensure the safety of students.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival directed the early dismissal of classes in all public and private schools based on the recommendation of the CCDRRMO due to the threat of flooding and other weather-related hazards.

School heads were instructed to ensure the safe and orderly release of students.

In Talisay City, Mayor Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas recommended an early dismissal in all public schools after coordinating with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Education.

Private schools and Talisay City College were allowed to decide independently whether to suspend or shorten classes.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Medellin also ordered the early dismissal of classes in both public and private schools beginning at 2:50 p.m. following PAGASA's heavy rainfall warning.

In Mandaue City, students of Mayor A.S. Fortuna Memorial Elementary School were sent home Friday morning after school officials suspended face-to-face classes due to heavy rains that began around 10 a.m.

Parents were immediately notified to pick up their children to avoid a repeat of Thursday's flooding, when students became stranded inside the campus and had to be evacuated by personnel of the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office with assistance from the Guizo Barangay Emergency Response Teamwith the use of rubber boats.(MyTVCebu)