CDO under state of calamity due to floods
A month’s volume of rain unleashed by the tail end of a cold front and a low pressure area in just a day in Misamis Oriental and nearby provinces have resulted in massive flooding, forced evacuation of thousands of surprised residents and the death of at least seven persons.
More than 30 persons were reported injured while two were reported missing.
Supt. Surki Serenas, spokesman of the Northern Mindanao regional police said the rains have flooded most areas in Region 10 but Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) was the hardest hit. Three areas – Iligan City, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte are likewise in a state of calamity.
“But it is only CDO which is officially declared under state of calamity. Those areas were hit by flooding but it is CDO which was hit the hardest,” said Serenas.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincent Emano on Tuesday suspended classes at the pre-school, elementary and high school levels across the province.
In its 11 a.m. advisory Tuesday, the state weather bureau said the low-pressure area east-northeast of Zamboanga City has dissipated but the tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region. It warned these areas of possible flashfloods and landslides.
Roads passable
The weather in CDO has already improved but some areas are still flooded, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Ricardo B. Jalad. Roads are already passable.
About 1,654 families (6,827 individuals) already returned to their homes of the 3,000 (12,452 individuals) who were forced to evacuate by swelling waterways, landslides and flashfloods.
The casualties were identified as Jaime Chan, 3 of Barangay Agay-ayan and Nilo Quiloman, 54 of Barangay Santiago in Gingoog City; Kian Montecino, 10 of Barangay Awang, Opol; CJ Lapuz, 7 of Barangay Mahayahay, Magsaysay; and Renny Boy Cabido, 14 of Upper Zone 3, Barangay Agusan and an unidentified person from Barangay Balulang, both from CDO.
A certain Abel Uano from Medina town is still missing.
Fernando Dy, the officer-in-charge of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said among the hardest hit by floodwaters in the province was Gingoog City where 421 families were evacuated while landslides blocked the roads in Manticao.
High tide
The rains poured as students and teachers were in school trapping them in campus for more than 10 hours as the waters started to rise aggravated by a 0.7-meter high tide in the province of Misamis Oriental Monday.
The flooding occurred six years and a month after Typhoon Sendong hit the city on December 16 and 17 in 2011.
“The situation is not the same with that of Sendong in 2011 that resulted in the overflowing of “Ipunan” and “Cagayan River”. Yesterday (Monday), the rivers did not overflow and it just so happened that the rain in the area was really strong,” Jalad explained.
“There were rains in Bukidnon area and Cagayan de Oro so the minor tributaries and creeks overflowed causing floods,” he added.
In Cagayan de Oro, residential areas, major thoroughfares, business district and school campuses submerged in rainwater, leaving some private and public utility vehicles floating in the floodwaters.
Ayala Centrio Mall did not close its doors beyond its business hours and allowed people to stay inside the establishment and surrounding premises.
Inside the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), hungry students called up radio stations for help and to complain about the lack of food. Some were given a piece of bread and one-fourth glass of water. Others had nothing.
Most residential areas had no power and water until Tuesday morning.
The stranded students and teachers of MUST were transported by rescue teams from the army’s 4th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office10.
9,000 food packs
Jalad, citing field reports said the continuous rains flooded some areas in Regions 6,7, 8, 9, 10 and Negros Island.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is closely monitoring the situation of families displaced by flashfloods and landslides in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Iligan, Lanao del Norte and are set to airlift 9,000 family food packs, 2,000 dignity kits, 5,000 blankets, and 5,000 ready-to-eat Chicken Arroz Caldo to its field office in Northern Mindanao, pending the availability of a Philippine Air Force C130 plane. A standy fund of 17 million has also been allocated.