Surigao Norte placed under state of calamity

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Surigao del Norte, where floods and landslides have affected 235 barangays displacing at least 20,137 families, is now under a state of calamity.

The provincial board, presided over by Vice Gov. Carlos Egay Jr., made the declaration upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council chaired by Gov. Sol Folcadilla Matugas.

A farmer, Amado Basadre, 37, was reported missing as he was swept by strong current while crossing a river in San Francisco town.

Close to 2,000 families in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region have been evacuated due to a low pressure area that is expected to bring heavy rains and floods, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

In a report, NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said a total of 1,761 families or 8,567 people have been brought to 23 evacuation centers in the two regions.

He said 47,725 families or 239,395 people were affected in 347 barangays in Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao, and Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands in the Caraga region.

The NDRRMC said a certain Reyam Bahan, 7, of Barangay Dona, Tubay, Agusan del Norte, got drowned in the flood.

In Masbate, four villagers were reported missing, namely Reynaldo Jipa, 40; Jesus Gaupo, 15; Junjun Gaupo, 21; and Ariel Niez, 19.

The NDRRMC said the Caraga region has been experiencing heavy rains since Jan. 31. Flooding was reported in Sitio Kasilak, Barangay Tala-ao and Barangay 7 in Buena­vista and Barangays Panay­tayon and Basilisa in Reme­dios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte.

Ramos said Malimono town in Surigao del Norte has been isolated due to a swollen river and a damaged bridge.

He said forced evacuation was implemented in low-lying and landslide-prone areas in the Caraga region.

Rescue operations have been conducted in the villages of Mahogany, Mahay, Banza, and Buhangin in Butuan City. –  With Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado