Manila: Over 46,000 individuals from various towns and cities in the Bicol Region in the Philippines have been evacuated due to heavy rainfall caused by the shear line, the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense announced.

According to Qatar News Agency, Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Gremil Alexis Naz stated that the threat of flooding and rain-induced landslides prompted the large-scale evacuation. Naz emphasized the coordination with provincial disaster risk reduction management offices across the six provinces to ensure a verified and updated report of affected individuals. He reported that 9,896 families, comprising 46,709 individuals from four provinces, have been displaced due to the severe weather conditions.

The Office of Civil Defense further detailed that a total of 7,858 families, or 38,362 persons, are currently residing in 77 evacuation centers. Meanwhile, 2,038 families, equating to 8,777 persons, have sought shelter with their relatives.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has indicated that the heavy rains induced by the northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” will persist in the Bicol Region. The shear line is expected to continue bringing moderate to heavy rains over the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.