CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Officials from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 are urging communities vulnerable to threats of flooding and landslides to remain vigilant especially during the wet season even as they ask people from these communities to immediately follow evacuation orders.

MGB7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo reiterated this call after issuing the recommendation for an immediate evacuation involving over 30 houses along the river embankment in Sitio Common of Barangay Bacayan in this city.

The recent incident swept away four houses and damaged another four situated along the five-meter scoured river bank.

Alburo, in his recommendation, also declared the site a “no habitation zone” as the barangays have been recently affected by flooding. According to the MGB7 team, the river embankment in the area is prone to scouring because it is characterized by highly weathered rocks where it easily reaches its saturation level given the amount or intensity of rainfall.