By Alexander Lopez / Philippine News Agency
Thousands of residents from the different provinces of the Caraga region fled their homes as Typhoon Odette pummeled the area with strong winds and heavy rains on Thursday (Dec. 16).
The typhoon made its first landfall at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.
In Butuan City, a total of 29 barangays were directly affected by flooding as intermittent rains dampened most parts of the city.
Michiko de Jesus of the city’s information office said 2,090 families with 7,113 individuals have evacuated from their homes as of 4:00 p.m. Thursday.
“Evacuation and rescue operations are still ongoing as flooding continues to affect our barangays. The number of evacuees is expected to increase,” De Jesus told the Philippine News Agency.
She also reported that the water level of the Agusan River, the biggest tributary in the city, has reached a warning level.
“The water level at Agusan River is already 1.40 meters. All the major rivers in Agusan del Sur end up here in the Agusan River. The danger level is at 2.0 meters,” De Jesus said.
She added that the city government is evacuating residents in barangays near the Agusan River.
Odette also caused power and water interruptions in the city.
In Agusan del Norte, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said around 560 families or 2,106 individuals were evacuated as Odette caused flooding in the several towns in the province.
As of 4:00 p.m. Thursday, the PDRRMO said it is still expecting reports on the continuing evacuations being conducted in towns.
So far, the evacuated families were from the towns of Tubay, Nasipit, Magallanes, Remedios T. Romualdez, and Cabadbaran City.
In Surigao City, a total of 3,280 families or 11,268 individuals from various barangays fled their homes due to floods.
The evacuees are now temporarily sheltered in 48 evacuation centers in the city.
In Agusan del Sur, evacuations were also conducted as most of the major river systems in the province have swollen due to intermittent rains since Wednesday.
No data yet were provided as to the number of families and persons evacuated in the area as of press time.
In Surigao del Sur, a total of 16,370 families from 17 towns and two cities were evacuated to 225 evacuation centers in the province.
The number of evacuees in Surigao del Sur include Barobo with 232, Bayabas (637), Bislig City (42), Cagwait (2,199), Cantilan (569), Carmen (96), Carrascal (1,375), Cortes (571), Hinatuan (2,265), Lanuza (375), Lianga (806), Lingig (917), Madrid (376), Marihatag (562), San Agustin (187), San Miguel (95), Tagbina (63), Tago (16), and Tandag City (3,668).
There is no update yet on the Province of Dinagat Islands as of press time as contact persons in the area can no longer be reached.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga) said it has increased the number of family food packs (FFPs) pre-positioned in Surigao City.
A total of 5,000 FFPs were pre-positioned at the compound of the Department of Public Works and Highways and another 2,850 in Brgy. Taft, all in Surigao City.
The DSWD-13 added that a total of 2,500 FFPs were also pre-positioned in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; 1,900 in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur; and 2,322 in Fort Poyohon, Butuan City.
The pre-positioned FFPs are worth P6,557,622, and the agency said it still has a standby fund of P5,229,583 as of Thursday. (PNA) – jlo
