CEBU CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – After an hour of rain in Cebu, several areas in the province were flooded on Friday, July 1. 

State weather agency Pagasa issued a thunderstorm warning over several cities and municipalities in Cebu, including Cebu City, Talisay City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Minglanilla, Naga City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Cordova. 

The rain began around 4 pm, and netizens began reporting flooded areas around 5 pm.

Waist-deep floods were reported on AS Fortuna Avenue in Mandaue City. Netizens also reported flooding in Banilad, around the Ayala Center, and Pope John Paul Avenue II in Cebu City around 5 pm. 

The floods triggered vehicular gridlock in several intersections, including AS Fortuna Avenue and the Lopez Jaena Highway in Mandaue City, and Governor Cuenco Avenue in Banilad, Cebu City.

According to Cebu City councilor Margot Osmeña, Cebu City’s disaster response teams and the Cebu City Transportation Office have been deployed to assist residents.

Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council Head Nagiel Banacia also said buses have been deployed to pick up stranded passengers to and from the following areas:

• Colon to Bulacao
• Colon to Guadalupe
• Colon to Labangon and Tisa
• Colon to SM City Cebu
  

Banacia said that passengers may have to wait for a while in the area because of continued gridlock around the city. 

While floodwaters had begun to subside, Banacia said heavy traffic should be expected late into the evening. 

According to Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) head Ulysis Umpit, the following areas are still congested as of 10 pm:

• SM City Cebu from A Soriano Avenue in Mabolo to the TEDSA Building on Pope John Paul II Avenue in Lahug
• MJ Cuenco from Carreta to Mabolo Church 
• F Cabahug Street to the Ayala access road 

He also said that flood waters remain high from White Gold House to the back of SM City Cebu.

According to the weather bureau, rains are expected to persist until 10 pm or 11 pm. – Rappler.com