‘Auring’ makes landfall in Siargao

The country’s first cyclone this year smacked Siargao island in Surigao del Norte province shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, sending thousands of people fleeing to higher ground amid warnings of flash floods and landslides.

Tropical Depression “Auring” was forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to cross the Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions, Leyte Island and the Central Visayas region on Monday.

Auring may reach Palawan on Tuesday and continue westward to the West Philippine Sea where it is expected to exit from the country around Thursday.

At the time of its landfall, Auring packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 70 kph while moving northwestwards at 9 kph.

Heavy rain

Pagasa expects Auring to remain a tropical depression over land and intensify to a tropical storm once it exits the Mindanao landmass into the Moro Gulf on its way to Palawan.

“While the wind is not destructive, what we have to watch out is the rain,” said Pagasa Administrator Vicente Malano.

Pagasa said that Eastern and Central Visayas and most of Mindanao were already experiencing heavy rains.

Malano said Auring could cause flash floods along the Agusan, Davao, Tagum-Libuganon and Mindanao river basins.

Alert for landslides

“There are areas in the Visayas and Mindanao that are prone to landslides, especially in Caraga, due to mining. According to the MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), landslides occur there even if it’s not raining because of mining operations. The rains may trigger landslides due to the many excavations,” he said.

Storm Signal No. 1

By the time of landfall, 16 areas had been placed underStorm Signal No. 1, including Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin; Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Provinces, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Guimaras, the southern part of Iloilo and the southern part of Antique; and Cuyo island.

Forecaster Christopher Perez said Metro Manila would not be directly affected by the cyclone but may expect passing light rains on Monday due to the prevailing northeast monsoon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) operation center at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City went on blue alert on Sunday.

1,000 families evacuated

NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said over 1,000 families were evacuated in the Caraga provinces with Auring’s approach.

She said local government units had been ordered to implement their “Operation Listo,” or disaster-preparedness protocol, while the local social welfare and health offices had been asked to preposition relief goods and medical supplies.

In Davao del Norte province, Gov. Anthony del Rosario ordered a 24-hour monitoring and response efforts.

Flooded communities

Moderate to heavy rain flooded several communities in Compostela Valley, forcing authorities there to declare a suspension of classes in at least nine towns, said Raul Villocino, provincial disaster action officer.

At least 773 passengers were stranded at Lipata Port in Surigao City, Mindanao’s main gateway to the Visayas. Cargo trucks and buses bound for Luzon were held up there, said Surigao City information officer Annette Villaces.

At smaller ports in the city, hundreds more were barred from leaving to other island routes such as Siargao and the Dinagat province. The Philippine Coast Guard has also advised fishermen and small boats not to venture out.

Minor landslide

Torrential rains have caused flooding and a minor landslide in Surigao City. Monday’s classes have been suspended in all levels there.

In Agusan del Sur province, some areas have already been flooded due to continuous rains since last week.

Village councilman Jonie Asoy of Nueva Era village in Bunawan town said the floodwaters had already reached their homes since Friday, but only three families sought temporary shelter in the designated evacuation center. —WITH REPORTS FROM DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN AND JEROME ANING IN MANILA; FRINSTON LIM, DANILO V. ADORADOR, JIGGER J, JERUSALEM AND CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN