Floods still isolate 60,000 Aurora folk

BALER, Aurora — Some 60,000 residents of three Aurora municipalities have remained isolated by floodwaters since last Monday, Gov. Bellaflor Angara said yesterday.

Angara ordered rescuers to check reports that three children were swept away by strong currents in Barangay Esperanza in Casiguran town.

Angara told The STAR that the towns of Dinaluyan, Casiguran, and Dilasag could not be reached by land due to strong currents from two rivers that have overflowed.

Angara said she has deployed heavy equipment to clear parts of the national highway of landslide amid fears that the residents of the isolated communities could run out of food supplies in a week’s time.

"We were prepared for this eventuality. The provincial and municipal disaster councils (prepared) food and medicines for the isolated areas early this year since we have learned from our experience during the devastating flash floods in 2004," she said.

Before the three towns became isolated, some 100 families were able to evacuate. They are now sheltered in the sports complex in this capital town.

"I told them I could send them a videoke machine for them to enjoy New Year’s Day should they not be able to return home in time for the New Year. I had to cheer them up," Angara said.

She said she wants the highway leading to the three isolated towns be made accessible as soon as possible.

"If the weather does not improve, not even helicopters can replenish their food supplies," she said.

Angara said rescue boats were dispatched to Barangay Esperanza in Casiguran town amid reports that strong currents had swept three children away.

Reports reaching Camp Olivas in Pampanga identified the three as Mark Anthony Zunega Padilla, 10; Kevin Mora Garcia, 11; and Ernie Tuazon, who were crossing the river on board a small boat when they went missing.

The provincial government appealed to the national government and the private sector for food and medicines for the flood-stricken families.

It recently purchased two motorized boats, each capable of ferrying 10 to 12 people, to be used for rescue operations during natural calamities.

It has also commissioned the building of three new rescue boats costing P260,000.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau earlier revealed studies showing that areas in Aurora that were devastated by flash floods and landslides in November 2004 still face serious danger.

Angara said the provincial government also bought radio communications equipment costing P5 million and distributed them to disaster management officials in Dinaluyan, Casiguran and Dilasag towns, which were also isolated by flash floods and landslides in 2004.

"We have cellphone signals in these areas but (they) vanish during bad weather. Radio equipment also last longer even during power outages," she said.

Angara said local funds are being spent on flood control and the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged last year.