Continuous rainfall triggers more flooding, landslides in areas struck by Odette

RECOVERY: A resident of Barangay Sabang in Surigao City rebuilds his family’s house using materials salvaged from debris left by Typhoon Odette (Rai). Many communities in Surigao are still without electricity and water, but aid, like relief goods gathered by a group from Butuan City, continues to arrive in areas hit by the typhoon. —ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS

Still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), residents in Surigao City staying in their damaged houses, shielded only by tarps and tattered roof sheets, were drenched amid heavy and continuous rainfall in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The downpour also triggered floods and landslides in these regions that were battered by Odette two weeks ago, reports from local governments and disaster response teams showed.

An orange rainfall warning was up in most of the Caraga region on Wednesday.

In Surigao City, the rain that began at dawn Wednesday lasted for some eight hours and dampened ongoing restoration work by families of their ravaged homes.

It also caused a landslide in Barangay Washington, near the city center, blocking the road. This added to the debris clearing work of the local engineering office.

In Barangay Luna, residents fled their makeshift shelters as the water level from a nearby river rose. In Barangay Rizal, knee-deep floodwater swamped their damaged homes.

Residents have appealed for donations of tarps so they can be protected from the elements while they try to rebuild their homes destroyed by Odette.

Aid agencies have also said they have prioritized the provision of roofing materials to residents.

Flight delay

Wednesday’s heavy rains prevented the landing of planes at the city’s airport prompting a team from the United States Embassy to cancel a visit to Barangay Sabang.

The American government recently provided additional P50 million to support communities affected by Odette.

At Barangay Mabuhay in nearby Sison town, Surigao del Norte province, a kilometer-long line of vehicles waited for their turn to pass a single lane of the national highway which was covered by mud from a morning landslide.

Teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways were able to clear one lane as of midafternoon Wednesday to allow vehicles to pass.Another landslide blocked a section of the national highway at Barangay San Roque in Kitcharao town.

PHOTO BY ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS

In the Visayas, a weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in the region were caused by a shear line, or the tail-end of a frontal system.”“[Prepare for] possible flash floods or landslides due to heavy to at times intense rains,” an advisory from the weather bureau said.

Swollen rivers

In Eastern Visayas, several towns, like Lope de Vega and Allen in Northern Samar, have experienced flooding and minor landslides.

The municipal disaster risk reduction and management office of Lope de Vega said some riverbanks were eroded due to swollen waterways.

A landslide hit a section of a highway in Barangay Cabacungan in Allen but a DPWH team had been sent there to clear the road.

Another landslide was also reported at Barangay Libas in Lavezares town, with members of the Army’s 543rd Engineering Battalion starting clearing operations.

In Cebu City, disaster response teams are monitoring the riverbanks and coastlines in case there is a need to evacuate residents in these areas.

Gerry Carillo, chair of the city disaster risk reduction and management council, said at least 10 schools had been prepared as evacuation centers.