Thousands of residents in Oriental Mindoro have been affected by severe flooding as a shear line continues to bring heavy rainfall to the province, disaster officials reported today, Feb. 9, 2025.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) confirms that five municipalities – Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, and Calapan City – are currently experiencing massive flooding, with at least 3,833 individuals displaced across four towns.

Officials are still assessing the impact in Baco municipality.

The situation has become particularly critical in Baco, where the Alag River reached dangerous levels by 7:30 this morning.

In Calapan City, the province’s capital, residential areas including Sitio Perlas and Sitio Layugan in Barangay Canubing 2 are submerged, while floodwaters from the river have spilled onto the highway in Barangay Santa Rita.

Weather authorities forecast continued moderate to heavy rainfall over the next 2-3 hours, particularly affecting Calapan City, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Naujan, and Victoria.

PAGASA attributes the adverse weather to the shear line effect, though no tropical cyclone threats have been identified.

In a related development, search and rescue operations are ongoing for Rico Macawili, 47, an indigenous person from Bucayao Grande, Banuton, Naujan.

Macawili was reportedly swept away by strong currents yesterday afternoon around 2:20 PM.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Naujan WASAR Team, led by Operations Division Chief Kevin John Genteroy, is coordinating with barangay officials and volunteers in the search effort.

LGU authorities continue to urge residents, particularly those living near waterways, to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist in the ongoing search operation.