‘Urduja’ causes floods in Northern Mindanao

Typhoon “Urduja” caused flashfloods, landslides and the evacuation of 1,664 families or some 8,000 persons in Region X, according to reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Center (NDCC).

Sources said that evacuation started since Tuesday evening in eight barangays of Cagayan de Oro City with the inundation of water in those villages. Text messages from residents there noted that water reached waist level around 8 p.m.

Glenn J. Rabonza, NDCC executive officer, reported that floods and landslides occurred in the provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental and in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and in Gingoog.

Rabonza reported that two members of the Rallos family in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental were reported dead after a landslide covered them. "A sick man was also buried in a landslide in Jasaan," said Mayor Redentor Jardin.

There were also reports of 10 fishermen declared missing.

Landslides and overflowing of creeks made roads impassable like those in barangay Bayanga in Cagayan de Oro; barangay Tupsan in Mahinog and barangay Lumad at Mambajao in Camiguin; and the national highway along barangay Punta Gorda of Balingasag at Misamis Oriental.

As seen on televisions, boulders of rocks fell on the road, damaging trucks along the national highway in Balingasag.

Power outages were also experienced in Camiguin and in Gingoog since Tuesday.

In Caraga Region, 26 barangays were affected by flooding due to overflowing of the Puyo and Celopan Rivers.

The same happened in seven barangays of Butuan City, 11 barangays in Buenavista, three barangays in Jabonga and two barangays in Magallanes.

Flood also affected three barangays in San Jose, Dinagat Islands with 1,464 families or 7,396 persons affected.

Rabonsa said that of the total affected, 335 families or 1,751 persons were evacuated to nine

evacuation centers at Sto. Niño Elementary School, Los Angeles National High School, Los Angeles Elementary School, Sacol barangay hall, JP Satorre municipal gym, Jabonga municipal gym, Jabonga Elementary School, Milan Elementary School and San Jose Elementary School.

In Butuan city, three houses were totally damaged.

Two minor landslides occurred along the national highway in Gawad Kalinga area, Sitio Punta Naga, Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte and in Barangay Jacquez, San Jose, Dinagat Islands.

Rabonsa said that the landslide area along the highway at the Gawad Kalinga area in Claver is being cleared but the road is still not passable at this time.

The landslide in Claver reported caused the fall of a Starex passenger van, injuring 10 passengers. They were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Members of the social welfare and disaster team in Region X provided temporary relief goods to evacuees but said they do not have enough goods.

In its website, the Catholic Bishops of Conference of the Philippines has accused that the floods are partly due to mining activities and the unabated cutting of trees. (Violeta M. Gloria / MindaNews)

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