Rescue and evacuation efforts are ongoing in Bacolod City following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Verbena, Mayor Greg Gastaya said Tuesday.

“Since nagstart iyong pagdaan ng malakas na ulan kahapon ng hapon, kagabi then early this morning at kasalukuyan on-going ang mga evacuation at rescue efforts na ginagawa,” he said in an interview with DZRH.

Gastaya said around 4,910 people are currently in evacuation centers, with rescue teams focusing on residents near rivers who initially refused to leave their homes.

He added that all riverways in Bacolod are at high levels due to continuous rainfall and runoff from surrounding mountains.

“So far walang reported casualty at hopefully wala at sa ngayon patuloy pa rin ang rescue efforts at evacuation,” he noted.

The mayor also said six or seven major streets near rivers have become impassable.

“May mga areas naman na malayo-layo sa rivers pero low-lying so, safe to say medyo malaki-laking percentage sa mga roads namin ay mayroon pa ring tubig pero in terms of the entire land area of Bacolod hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang lubog sa baha,” he added.

Gastaya assured residents that those in evacuation centers have adequate food and water supplies.