A resident of Barangay Villa Kananga carries his family’s belongings, navigating through the flooded waters on Tuesday. Several parts of Butuan City were flooded as a result of heavy rains brought by a low-pressure area on Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo by ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS / Inquirer Mindanao)
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines — Over 1,000 people were displaced from their homes in several barangays here due to flooding spawned by a low pressure area on Tuesday.
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the affected barangays were Libertad, Pangabugan, Maon, Villa Kananga, Imadejas, Ambago, San Vicente, and Bonbon.
As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the CDRRMO counted 1,237 individuals who were temporarily sheltered in six evacuation centers, mostly in public schools, while rescue operations continued.
In some areas, the water rose only up to waist level, but most of the residents decided to leave their homes fearing the flood could go higher amid the incessant rains.
A 12-person team from the Army’s reserve command was sent to augment the rescue operations of the CDRRMO on Tuesday, especially in Libertad where many of the evacuees came from.
Personnel from the City Health Office distributed vitamins and administered medicines to those who were sick at the evacuation centers.
On Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in the city and in the Agusan and Surigao provinces, warning of possible flooding and landslides.
The Department of Education called off classes on Tuesday to ensure the safety of schoolchildren.