4T affected by rains in Visayas, Mindanao

CLOSE to 4,000 persons in four provinces were affected by the heavy rains brought by a low-pressure area in the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said yesterday.

A total of 731 families or 3,863 persons affected were from Regions VIII (Eastern Visayas), X (Northern Mindanao) and XIII (Caraga), with 2,905 people brought to evacuation centers.

Landslides were reported Thursday in the villages of Burubudan, Abuyog in Leyte; Pulahungon, Mahaplag in Leyte and Kahupian, Sogod in Southern Leyte.

A section of the Maharlika Highway in Sogod was impassable early Thursday morning following a landslide on Mt. Panjongon triggered by continuous heavy rain.

Manolo Rojas, assistant district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways at the Southern Leyte Engineering District, said the landslide occurred at the highway in Kahupian at 5:45 a.m. Thursday.

Rojas said heavy equipment was deployed to the area to clear the road, which is near the Agas-agas Bridge.

The roads were later opened after the clearing operations.

The DILG also reported landslides in the villages of Tadoc and Paguite in Abuyog, Leyte.

In Zamboanga del Norte, two bridges were declared impassable: Salug Daku Bridge and Macasoy Bridge.

Alert Level 1 was raised in the Province of Dinagat, Surigao City, Tandag City in Surigao del Sur and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte Thursday.

In Burauen, Leyte, residents were alerted for a possible evacuation should the Daguitan River overflow, the NDRRMC said. Classes were suspended at pre-school and elementary levels in Dinagat, while classes at all levels were suspended in Tandag City. /INQUIRER