2 dead in Caraga flashfloods, 200 families flee homes

By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO (Manila Bulletin)

January 18, 2010, 9:46am

BUTUAN CITY – Two children were washed away and feared dead while several houses were also reported destroyed when flash floods struck in some areas in the Caraga region due to week-long torrential rains.

The regional command of the Police Regional Office 13 ordered all municipal chiefs of police to mobilize their personnel to assist the municipal disaster council in their areas of jurisdiction.

The latest report reaching the regional command and tactical operation center of PRO 13 at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here stated that 16 barangays in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,Surigao Del Sur and the cities of Butuan and Bayugan were hit by flash floods.

A field report stated that the overflowing of the Tagupa Creek washed away 2 children at 5:20 in the afternoon on Sunday in Barangay Tagapua, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Police identified the victims as Lovely Ramirez, 9 and Jun-Jun Encarnacion, 11 both of Barangay Tagapua of that same town. A search operation conducted by the San Francisco Municipal Disaster Council is still going on.

Reports coming from disaster councils in affected areas also stated that 2 houses collapsed at Purok 4, Barangay Ecleo, Cagdianao, in Dinagat Islands province. The status of the families of the said collapsed houses is still not known as of press time.

In Agusan del Norte, at Barangay Colorado of Jabonga town, 13 families had been evacuated to Jabonga Elementary School.

Agricultural areas of Barangays Tagbuyacan and E. Morgado of Santiago town of that same province were also flooded. Roads and bridges are still passable except the provincial road of Barangay Tagbuyacan to Barangay E. Morgado due to the overflowing of the Kalinawan River.

In Agusan del Sur, 5 barangays of Sta. Josefa town, Agusan del Sur were also flooded due to the continuous downpour of the past week.

In Bunawan town of that same province, the Agsao River located at the crossing of Tagbayangbang and Barangay Bunawan Brooks, started to overflow affecting said areas. The wooden bridge in Barangay Imelda is not passable due to the overflow of Simulao River. In Barangay Libertad, also of that same town, 22 houses were affected by the flood. The road in the area is not passable. Barangay San Marcos is also flooded because of the overflowed Simulao river.

In Bayugan City, particularly at Purok 9 and 1O of Barangay Taglatawan, the police force, together with the barangay rescue team, saved 35 families and evacuated them to East Central Elementary School in Barangay Taglatawan.

In Surigao del Sur, several barangays of the towns of San Miguel, Tago and Bayabas are also flooded. However, a police report said that roads and bridges are still passable. No landslide was reported.

In Tandag City, 40 families were also evacuated due to flash floods.

In Butuan City, as of Monday, 11 barangays are affected by the continuous downpour. These areas are Barangays Sto Niño, Mahay, Libertad, Baan Riverside, Bitan-agan, Nong-nong,Anticala, Pianing, Tungao, Buhangin & Pangabugan. There are 10 families evacuated from Barangay Pangabugan as of posting.

In Surigao del Norte, as of Sunday afternoon, residents of Barangay Quezon, Mainit town particularly those residing near Mainit Lake evacuated to Mainit Gymnasium for safety. Affected families are still in the gym assisted by the local disaster council.