‘Odette’ brings landslides, cuts water supply in Butuan City

Loosened soil covers a portion of the national highway in Barangay De Oro in Butuan City. Clearing is underway. PHOTO BY RAYVEN LERION, Philippine Red Cross

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY––The initial onslaught of Typhoon “Odette” has damaged the pipeline conveying water from a dam to a treatment facility that, in turn, supplies potable water distributed by the Butuan City Water District (BCWD).

Because of this, BCWD is operating its three pump stations to augment water supply throughout its service area, the company said.

As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, the BCWD said a portion of its service area would experience lower water pressure, while others would be waterless.

The Taguibo Aquatech Solutions Corporation (TASC), BCWD’s bulk water supplier, is working to restore the operation of its treatment facility.

Butuan City and a big part of Agusan del Norte are without power.

At around 1 p.m., a team from the City Engineering Office and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had cleared the debris blocking the national highway in Barangay San Mateo due to a landslide.

Clearing is underway at the national highway in Barangay De Oro.

In Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, the DPWH and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office advised travelers not to take the Gingoog-Claveria-Villanueva highway, a new alternate route developed years ago, but instead take the old Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan road.

The DPWH said they were closing the Gingoog-Claveria-Villanueva route temporarily due to possible landslides.

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