Olongapo continues to battle flooding, erosion amid heavy rains

OLONGAPO CITY — Continuous southwest monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding and soil erosion in several parts of Olongapo City since Friday, Aug. 28, leaving major roads impassable and forcing residents in a riverside barangay to evacuate.

Minor soil erosion was reported in Barangay Kalaklan at around 1:30 p.m., scattering rocks along the major road leading to Zambales, according to former Vice Mayor Rolen Paulino.

Water levels along Rizal Avenue near Apo Torunda began rising at around 2:30 p.m.

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READ: Heavy rainfall warnings raised over more areas in Luzon – Pagasa

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By 4:30 p.m., the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents in Barangay Sta. Rita as water levels in the Sta. Rita River continued to rise.

The river eventually overflowed at around 6:30 p.m., spilling over the Del Rosario and Sta. Rita bridges and flooding portions of West Bajac Bajac, East Bajac Bajac, Kalaklan and Sta. Rita.

Traffic in the affected areas came to a standstill by 7 p.m.

Another case of soil erosion was reported along Napalan Street in Barangay Mabayuan. No injuries were reported.

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Inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, several roads also became impassable because of flooding, according to Armie Llamas, officer in charge of the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Corporate Affairs.

Bravo Fence, San Bernardino Road, Labitan Street and Quezon Avenue were not passable to light vehicles, while the 10-13 Road near the Kalayaan Sentry was closed to all vehicles.

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The CDRRMO issued a red rainfall warning at around 8:30 p.m., even as floodwaters began to recede in some parts of the city. /das