Floods, landslides hit Surigao del Sur; classes, work suspended

DAVAO CITY – Classes and work were suspended in several towns in the province of Surigao del Sur after continuing rains this week caused flooding and landslides in the area.

Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel suspended classes in the elementary level both in public and private educational institutions on Friday morning because of heavy rains.

Pimentel also declared work suspension both in government and private institutions as the rains caused flooding in the city, including the Tandag Airport.

The Surigao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said classes in all levels were suspended in Cortes town and in the elementary level in Madrid town.

The local government of San Miguel town also suspended classes in all levels while elementary and high school classes were also suspended in the towns of Lanuza and San Cantilan.

Low-lying villages including the poblacion area in San Miguel town are now flooded after the Tago River overflowed because of the heavy rains, provincial officials said.

As the bad weather continued to dump rain water in the province, the national highway between Tandag City and Cortes town were declared not passable due to landslides in the villages of Matho and Balibadon, Surigao del Sur PDRRMO Abel de Guzman said.

The road between Lanuza and Cortez town is presently not accessible after four landslides hit the area.

Government personnel are now in the area to clear the road from the debris caused by the landslides.
No casualties have been reported as of writing.

In Agusan del Sur, Vice Gov. Santiago Cane said at least four areas continue to suffer from the rains and that landslides had also been reported.

The slides even isolated some hinterland villages, he said.

“Despite all odds, we were able to reach four major devastated areas in Bayugan City and Sibagat,” Cane added.

Karlos Manlupig with a report from Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao