Classes suspended in Butuan City, some parts in Caraga region due to continuous rain
BUTUAN CITY -- Classes in this region’s frontier and capital city of Butuan were suspended on Monday, Jan. 9, due to continuous rains brought by a low pressure area (LPA).
The continuous rains over the past week in almost all parts in Northeastern Mindanao or The Caraga Region also threatened to suspend classes in some parts in the region.
Unaccounted number of families already sought safer grounds due to flash floods in some parts in Agusan del Sur, as tributaries of the giant Agusan river overflowed early Monday morning.
Suspension of classes in all kindergarten, elementary and high school levels in La Paz town in Agusan del Sur province already took place.
The Agusan del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council was already closely monitoring the river systems in the river towns of Loreto, San Luis, Talacogon, La Paz, Bunawan, Prosperidad, Rosario and Sibagat.
The continuous rains in most parts of the region since Saturday (Jan. 7) triggered flash floods, and all rescue teams and personnel of the different Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) of local government units (LGUs) in various parts in the region are again mobilized to assist the affected.
Residents in coastal areas, particularly the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Siargao Islands were already advised early Monday morning to stay on “alert” as the weather disturbance would bring moderate to strong winds and rough sea conditions.
Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada ordered rescue team leaders to prepare the CDRRMO for possible untoward incidents caused by the continued heavy rain in the city.
Aside from Butuan City, Mayor Roxanne Pimentel of Tandag City in Surigao del Sur province also ordered the temporary suspension of classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in both public and private schools.
Classes were also suspended in the towns of Cortes, Tago, Madrid and neighboring areas as heavy rains and strong gusts of winds continued to affect the areas since Sunday.
General Luna town Mayor Sol F. Matugas already mobilized the rescue teams to look into the situation of residents living along the coastal areas in this country’s surfing capital.
In Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, school authorities there also ordered the suspension of classes in areas affected by heavy rains and flash floods.