RESCUE OPS. Personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection rescue a stranded resident in Barangay Ladgaron of Claver town, Surigao del Norte province, as floodwaters hit the area on Monday (Dec. 26, 2022). The shear line that continues to affect the country has brought torrential rains in the last four days that caused floods and landslide, forcing thousands of families to evacuate in the different provinces of the Caraga region. (Photo courtesy of Claver Municipal Police Station)
BUTUAN CITY – The shear line prevailing in the Caraga Region for the past four days has caused flooding and landslides, forcing thousands of families to abandon their homes to evacuation centers for safety.
As of 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, the shear line continues to affect the northern portion of Mindanao including the Caraga area, according to local disaster management officials.
Several Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Offices (MDRRMOs) in the region said government rescuers and volunteer groups conducted evacuation of residents amid floods, swelling of rivers, and landslides.
Road, bridge closure
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Caraga (DPWH-13) said Tuesday it ordered the temporary closure of inundated roads and damaged bridges, particularly in several portions of Claver town, Surigao del Norte; and Carrascal, Surigao del Sur province.
In Surigao del Sur, Governor Alexander Pimentel ordered all local officials to implement forced evacuations to secure the residents and attain zero casualty as the rainfall warning in the province was raised to a red warning level on Monday.
Evacuations
At least 2,372 families or 8,635 individuals from 21 barangays in Tandag City were also evacuated from their homes since Monday and are now staying in the various evacuation centers in the city.
In the town of San Miguel, some 11,006 families or 45,540 individuals from 18 barangays were also hit by floodwaters since Sunday and are now temporarily sheltered in 12 designated evacuation centers.
Flooding has also affected 270 families in three barangays in Tago town; 225 families in five barangays of Madrid; 137 families in two barangays of Carrascal, 55 families in four barangays of Carmen and 17 families in two villages of Lanuza.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Agriculture Office of Cantilan reported that around 756 hectares of rice farms are severely affected by floods.
In Surigao del Norte, some 1,400 families or 5,700 individuals were reported affected by floods due to continuous rains in the town of General Luna in Siargao Island who are now housed in the designated evacuation sites in Barangays Poblacion, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Fe, Libertad and Magsaysay.
Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II said the evacuees in General Luna were provided with food and other needs by the local government unit and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 13.
In Claver municipality, some 2,359 families or 7,256 individuals in 14 barangays were evacuated to safety.
Some 2,181 families or 8,861 individuals were also affected in nine barangays in neighboring Bacuag town.
Destroyed houses
In Agusan del Norte, a landslide incident was reported in the areas of KM-9 and KM-8 in Barangay Camagong, Nasipit town while floodwaters also hit Barangay Colorado in Jabonga.
Rough waves due to strong winds also destroyed 51 houses, and partially damaged 77 other abodes in six coastal barangays in Carmen town.
In this city, 55 houses were partially damaged in the coastal area of Masao village.
The city social welfare office also reported the evacuation of 98 families or 397 individuals from Barangay Masao on Sunday.
In Dinagat Islands, Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. issued Executive Order No. 12-02 on Sunday mandating the activation of the local emergency operations centers in the province.
As of Monday evening, 179 families or 414 individuals were evacuated from 10 barangays in the seven towns of the province.
Of the total number of evacuees, 126 families or 245 individuals are presently sheltered in the different evacuation centers while the rest are staying with their relatives and friends.
Clearing operations were also conducted in the towns of San Jose, Basilisa, and Dinagat where landslide incidents took place on Monday. (PNA)
