Lahar flow prompts evacuation in 2 Sorsogon towns

At least 403 families or 1,637 residents in Irosin and Juban towns in Sorsogon evacuated their homes before dawn Tuesday due to lahar flows from heavy rains.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday evening the lahar flow reached at least 50 houses, damaging three of them.

"Note that this is not a forced or preemptive evacuation. Evacuees evacuated out of their own discretion," the NDRRMC said in a progress report Tuesday evening.

It added that at least three houses were partially damaged but not totally covered by the mudflow.

The NDRRMC said the lahar flow occurred in Irosin and Juban at 1 a.m. Tuesday, following heavy rains Monday night.

Included among the evacuees were 216 families (702 people) from Irosin and 187 families (935 people) from Juban.

While those from Juban decamped Tuesday afternoon due to improved weather conditions, some 20 families (100 people) in Monbon village in Irosin were moved to neighboring houses while a family of three in Bolos village in Irosin had its house washed out.

Local disaster management officials said possible flooding could occur at nearby Juban town due to continuous heavy rainfall.