13,000 Cagayan residents affected by massive flooding
A total of 13,135 individuals were affected by the massive flooding in Cagayan triggered by incessant rains, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Thursday.
The PDRRMO said affected residents were from 50 barangays in nine towns in the province.
As of Thursday afternoon, 2,429 individuals were staying in evacuation centers, the PDRRMO said, noting that others have opted to temporarily stay with neighbors or relatives.
Cesar Cuntapay, acting PDRRMO head, said personnel of the Task Force Lingkod Cagayan-Quick Response Team, as well as various rescue equipment, are on standby to augment municipal disaster response units if needed.
In Tuguegarao City, Mayor Maila Ting Que said the water level at Buntun Bridge was at the critical level of 11 meters as of 2 p.m.
"Sana tuloy-tuloy na ang araw (I hope sunny weather prevails) and no more rains for it to recede," she said.
Due to the flooding, the city government suspended its onsite operations by 3 p.m., excluding the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Health Office, Command Center, and the City Social Welfare and Development Office, which are on full alert 24/7 to monitor the weather situation and provide quick response if necessary.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 2 (Cagayan Valley), family food packs worth P513,000 have been distributed to affected families.
Aside from family food packs, about P115.9 million worth of relief resources are also available, the DSWD said.
Felipe Buena Jr., chief of staff of Gov. Edgar Aglipay, instructed the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to monitor their areas and be ready to respond.
The Coast Guard District Northeastern Luzon and other concerned agencies conducted forced evacuation procedures due to a sudden increase in water level caused by continuous heavy rains in Core Shelter, Barangay Annafunan East, Tuguegarao City.
Coast Guard evacuated 27 individuals who were safely transported to Annafunan East Integrated School in Tuguegarao City.