Thousands evacuated after floods in Agusan del Norte

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of families in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte were evacuated due to floods, latest count of disaster officials showed Sunday.

Some 3,194 families from 22 barangays in Butuan City were evacuated to several schools and covered courts after floods caused by the tail-end of a cold front and a low pressure area (LPA).

Affected barangays were Golden Ribbon, Mahogany, Buhangin, Agao, Baan Riverside, Bading, Obrero, Maon, Agusan Pequeño, Pangabugan, Baan KM3, Port Poyohon, Sto. Niño, Maug, Banza, Florida, Aupagan, Baobaon, Bilay, Dankias, Mandamo and Tungao.

Relief operations are ongoing at different evacuation camps.

Flash flood and landslide warnings were also raised Saturday in parts of Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Davao and Soccsksargen.

A house of one resident in Barangay San Isidro, Agusan del Sur was destroyed Saturday after a tree fell on it. The Philippine Information Agency in Agusan del Sur said that heavy rainfall eroded the land which uprooted the tree.

The house owner Doris Arcosa, 29, has already evacuated with her family and three children when the incident happened.

In its 11 a.m. weather advisory Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the effect of the trough of the LPA has already weakened.

PAGASA, however, warned that this weather system will continue to bring light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Mindanao. 

The Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said that code red flood alert 3 is still up at Agusan River as of 10 a.m as the water level continues to rise. 

A photo posted by the Philippine Information Agency in Agusan del Norte showed knee-deep flood at Barangay Buhangin. 

Meanwhile, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Erma Suyo said that the road from Tungao, Butuan City to Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte was also impassable.

PAGASA said that the tail-end of a cold front is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Bicol and Quezon province.

The state weather bureau warned residents in these areas against possible flashfloods and landslides.