LPA spawned rains list 13 casualties, affect over 24,000 families in Caraga region

The moderate to heavy rains spawned by the low pressure area LPA) affecting Butuan city and the other parts of Caraga region has now listed 13 casualties and thousands of families affected.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) situational report No. 13, as of 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, said Butuan City's Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Butuan still raised "Alert Level 2" and continuously monitor the water level of Agusan River which was recorded at 2.81 meter. at 9:30 a.m.

In the other parts of the region, the Buhisan Bridge in Surigao del Sur remains unpassable due to the overflowed river waters. Likewise the roads from the municipality of Lingig to Davao Oriental were still unpassable due to landslides.

A total of 24,808 families or 114,768 persons in 176 barangays were affected by flooding and landslides, while 10,159 families from the total of population displaced were housed in 180 evacuation centers in the five provinces of the region and Butuan City.

A total of 13 persons were reported as casualties of landslides and drowning in swoolen rivers. Three of these were still missing from the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur, while the remaining 10 persons were reported dead from Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

The damage to infrastructure was estimated at P6,543, 750.00 as reported by the PDRRMCs of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte due to landslides and floodings. The damage to agriculture was also estimated at P7,355,149.00 as reported by Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte PDRRMCs due to floods.

In Butuan City, classes resumed Tuesday in schools unaffected by floods and not used as evacuation centers. The CDRRMC convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to pass a resolution recommending to the SP the declaration of the city under "state of calamity." On Tuesday, the SP approved SP Resolution No. 13-008-2014 placing Butuan City under "State of Calamity." The CDRRMC extended relief packs to flood victims valued at P63,495.00.

The LGUs and line agencies of the other cities and provinces in the regions haves also conducted relief assistance to the affected families in the various evacuation centers and undertook measures to warn their constituents of hazards to ensure their safety.

The RDDRMC Operation Center continues to maintain 24/7 monitoring and undertake frequent coordination with the local DRRMCs for situational updates. (PNA)