Over a thousand families in Northern Mindanao evacuated due to nonstop rains

Published December 25, 2022, 6:52 PM

by Franck Dick Rosete

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Over a thousand families in the Northern Mindanao region, specifically in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental, were evacuated due to nonstop moderate to heavy rains since Christmas Eve (Dec. 24).

In a situational report from the Office of the Civil Defense Region 10 (OCD-10), the agency reported 705 families composed of 1,935 individuals who were evacuated from 25 barangays in five cities and municipalities in Misamis Oriental. 

The Coast Guard Station Misamis Occidental Deployable Response Group (DRG) deploys its personnel to conduct rescue operations and rendered necessary assistance for the evacuation of the local residents affected by the flood at Barangay Del Paz and Barangay Lupagan, Clarin, Misamis Occidental. (Photo courtesy of Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao)

The affected areas in the said province include the cities of Gingoog and El Salvador, and the municipalities of Magsaysay, Talisayan, Balingoan, and Balingasag.

About 696 families or 1,863 individuals have remained in the evacuation centers as some of the families already went back to their respective places.

On the other hand, in the province of Misamis Occidental, the OCD-10 has tallied 505 affected and evacuated families, which are equivalent to 2,398 individuals from a total of 16 barangays in the municipalities of Sinacaban and Jimenez.

The OCD-10 is still waiting for the updated report from different local affected government units (LGUs). 

The said number of affected families are still in the evacuation areas based on the report, and the flood from the two municipalities already subsided at around 5 a.m. of Dec. 25, Christmas Day.

It can be recalled that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued a heavy rainfall warning signal number 2 due to shearline/wind convergence weather system on December 24, 8 p.m.

Due to the heavy rains, the water system in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, specifically the transmission pipeline has been reportedly damaged.

On the other hand, the Highway 955 and Cagayan de Oro-Butuan highway in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental has also been affected because of road blockage due to loosen gravel and falling rocks and trees, and overflowing of canal due to non-stop heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro has also experienced nonstop light to moderate rains. However, there were no affected nor evacuated families as of the latest, and the water level of the Cagayan de Oro and Iponan river remain normal as confirmed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRRMD) and Management Department here.

The respective local government units of the affected areas have been currently monitoring the weather condition and advised their respective constituents to take extra precautions.