Waist-high floods in Agusan, Surigao

MANILA, Philippines – Floods from heavy rain brought by a low-pressure area reached waist-high levels in some areas of Surigao and Agusan provinces, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2011.

 

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said several areas in Surigao and Agusan had to be closed to traffic due to the floodwaters.

 

“Closed ang traffic dahil (hanggang) baywang ang tubig baha doon. Sa Daang Maharlika ng Surigao del Norte, closed traffic dahil sa baha. (Sa) Agusan del Sur at North Bayugan city at San Francisco, baha na rin ito kaya closed traffic (Several areas in Surigao and Agusan are closed to traffic because the floodwaters there are waist-high. In Daang Maharlika in Surigao del Norte, roads are closed to traffic due to the floods. In Agusan del Sur, Bayugan City and San Francisco are also flooded),” he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

No casualties were reported. At least some 1,000 families were evacuated before the flood hit their communities, according to Ramos.

 

“Mabuti sanay ang tao rito, nag-evacuate sila dito kahapon pa. Preemptive evacuation, walang casualties (It is good that the people there are used to this. They evacuated since Monday. We hope there are no casualties because of the preemptive evacuation),” he said.

 

Ramos said the rain appeared to stop Monday night, although the rainwater may accumulate in the local river system.

 

He also cited reports of flooding in Cebu province, as well as Southern Leyte. – Rappler.com