BUTUAN CITY – Three thousand, eight-hundred fifty-eight families or 14,233 individuals have been affected as tropical storm “Auring” (international name “Dujuan”) began pounding Northeastern Mindanao or the Caraga region with heavy rains and winds Sunday.

A progress report of the regional and action disaster monitoring center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here said  3,403 families or 12,081 individuals were temporarily evacuated in various evacuation centers spread in the five provinces and six cities in the region.

Seventy-eight evacuation centers have been opened in different areas in the region while some 84 families or 381 individuals have evacuated outside evacuation centers.

An initial P179,000 worth of food and non-food assistance have been provided by local government units to the affected families, said the DSWD Region 13.

In his progress report to DSWD Disaster Response Management Group Undersecretary Felicisimo C. Budiongan and Disaster Response Management Bureau Director IV Clifford Cyril Y. Riveral, DSWD 13 Regional Director Ramel F. Jamen said all social welfare personnel and rescue teams of the different Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) and local government units (LGUs) have been mobilized to assist the affected families and individuals.

Disaster response teams of LGUs particularly focused on the largest affected families in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Dinagat, and some parts in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte. 

“Our Field Offices (FOs) Quick Response Team (QRT) is continuously rendering duty in the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in a 24/7 basis to monitor the disaster response operation of the LGUs,” Jamen added.

Quoting a progress report from the field, DSWD 13 spokesperson Mark Davey Reyes said 142 houses were reportedly damaged – one totally and 141 partially – by Auring.

Nobody was injured or killed by Auring as of posting time.

All vessels and watercraft plying Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Surigao City in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Sur have been barred from sailing due to the weather disturbance. Air travel has also been suspended.

Sixty-four passengers are stranded in the two ports in Surigao City.

Department of Public Works and Highways Caraga Regional Director Engineer Pol M. delos Santos reported that all disaster and rescue teams of the different District Engineering Offices (DEOs) are now in their respective areas of assignment ready to clear of any debris from Auring that might block the roads and national highway. “So far, no untoward incidents were reported as of this time,” Delos Santos said.