While Typhoon Kristine was hitting Pangasinan, ten residents from Zone 5, Barangay Ambabaay, in Bani were trapped in a fishpond on the afternoon of October 23.
The houses of these residents are situated near the fishpond.
According to Angelico Ventenilla, Bani MDRRM Officer, “When the rain didn’t stop, around 5:30 pm, ma’am, I called the PDRRMO. I anticipated that if the rain continued along with the high tide between 12 am and 1 am, we would definitely get flooded. But what happened was a flash flood, and the water rose quickly.”
Due to the rapid rise in water caused by the storm surge, the residents were unable to leave immediately.
So, Pangasinan PDRRMO, led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, quickly deployed a search and rescue team to save the residents.
“Some houses needed to be evacuated because people were scared. Their homes were already being submerged. When we were in the middle, we encountered shallow areas in the fishpond dikes, which made it difficult. Then, on the way back, after rescuing the people, the wind, rain, and water intensified, so we struggled,” said Arnel Cruz, WASAR Team Leader at Pangasinan PDRRMO.
At first, the residents couldn’t be rescued immediately because the strong wind and rain increased as the water rose.
As a result, the search and rescue operation lasted over three hours.
At 11 in the evening on October 23, they were finally rescued with the help of the WASAR Search and Rescue Team and Pangasinan PDRRMO.
Despite everything, the residents and the Bani LGU are deeply grateful for the prompt action of the Pangasinan PDRRMO and the provincial government.
“They are truly reliable, ma’am, the kind who are resourceful, even without food, striking anywhere, with a cowboy spirit, but still respectful to each other,” said Ventenilla.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
