3 girls die in Caraga flash floods

San Francisco, Agusan del Sur , Philippines  – Three girls, aged nine to 11 were drowned after their village in Caraga was hit by flash floods caused by continued heavy rains, a local official said yesterday. About 4,753 individuals or 764 families were affected by flooding and landslides in 39 barangays in five provinces in Caraga Region, the Office of Civil Defense and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council said in their updated report.

The minor victims were swept away by strong current of floodwaters in the said area, the OCD reported.

In Dinagat Islands, some 104 families were evacuated from different barangays in the five municipalities of the island due to landslides and flash floods, a belated report from the island province’ Disaster Coordinating Council, showed.

In Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur some 119 individuals or about 31 families were evacuated to Barangay Buenas Suertres Barangay and Multi-Purpose Hall due to flash floods and landslides in said area.

In Surigao del Norte, residents of Barangay Quezon, Mainit town particularly those residing near Mainit Lake were evacuated to Mainit gymnasium for safety. Some 140 affected families are still in the municipal gym.

RDCC chair Chief Superintendent Lino de Guzman Calingasan said the Mainit Municipal Police Station is continuously monitoring the situation.

Also, in Agusan del Norte, Barangay Colorado, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte was still partially submerged by floodwaters. Thirteen families have been evacuated to Jabonga Elementary School. Coordination with the Local Disaster Coordinating Council has already been made.

The RDCC agricultural areas of Barangays Tagbuyacan and E. Morgado in Santiago, Agusan del Norte were partially flooded due to heavy rains, but no families were evacuated so far.

Roads and bridges are still passable except the Provincial Road of Barangay Tagbuyacan to Barangay E. Morgado due to the overflowing of Kalinawan River. Heavy silting of the river has been the perennial problem that resulted to heavy flooding to some 20 barangays situated near the river over the years, the RDCC said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office have already sent initial relief goods to different evacuation centers in the region.