Over 200,000 displaced by Agusan flashfloods

ZAMBOANGA CITY — More than 200,000 people were rendered homeless by flashfloods that swept across the Agusan province due to torrential rains that hit the area for the past four days, the Armed Forces Southern Command reported here.

Maj. Gamal Hayudini, Southern Command information chief, said Butuan City was most affected with 43 of its villages submerged in flood water, displacing more or less 91,664 people.

He said most of those affected were residents of seven barangays, namely, Baan, Riverside, Buhangin, Mahay, Mahogany, Lemon, Sto. Niño and Baobaoan.

The affected families were immediately evacuated and temporarily sheltered at the Agusan National High School in Butuan City, Hayudini said.

At least 62,000 persons were also displaced in Bislig City due to the flashfloods that hit the city since Feb. 8.

According to Hayudini, other municipalities and affected by the flashfloods in Agusan del Norte were Las Nieves, RTR, Magallanes and Jabonga where approximately 38,000 residents were affected.

Two towns in Surigao del Norte — Mainit and San Francisco — were also affected by flashfloods that affected 12 barangays and displaced 4,902 people.

In Agusan del Sur, the municipalities of San Francisco, Esperanza and Loreto are still submerged in floodwater.

Hayudini said classes in all levels in the affected areas were suspended as major streets were still under water.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) based in the Caraga Region said more or less 1,466 families are now housed in 13 evacuation centers, while 29,213 families were accommodated outside the evacuation centers.

The Office of the Civil Defense in CARAGA has requested immediate assistance from the National Disaster and Coordinating Council in the ongoing relief operation.