Alerts are up at the provincial and municipal levels in the Caraga region after the issuance of a “yellow warning”, the weather bureau said.
Most areas in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the province of Dinagat Islands are affected by the trough of Typhoon Nyatoh (international name), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its warning issued at 8 a.m. Friday.
“Flooding is possible, especially in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas,” the bureau said in its bulletin.
PAGASA also advised the respective disaster risk reduction and management councils of local government units to take appropriate action and monitor the weather condition.
In this city, the local power distribution utility Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (Aneco) initiated an emergency shutdown of power distribution in barangays Bancasi, Dumalagan, Libertad, Bonbon, and Kinamlutan due to flooding.
In an advisory, Aneco said floodwaters have begun to engulf the compound of their substations in the affected barangays, posing great danger to residents.
In a phone interview Friday, Michiko de Jesus of the city information office said at least 100 families in Bancasi have been evacuated.
“The affected families are now housed temporarily at the FP Magno Elementary School. The city government is assessing their needs for assistance while in the evacuation center,” de Jesus said.
She added that rescue teams were deployed to the flooded areas of the city to assist the affected residents.
Portions of some major streets here, including JC Aquino Avenue, are flooded, causing heavy traffic for both motorists and commuters.
Meanwhile, the different stations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands have issued the temporary suspension of voyages of vessels and watercraft with 250 gross tonnages and below on Friday.
The PCG stations also said sea vessels allowed to travel during the period have been reminded to take precautionary measures and to be extra attentive in monitoring the existing weather disturbance.
Source: Philippines News Agency