Thousands stranded as floods swamp VisMin cities
C.M. Recto Avenue, one of Cagayan de Oro’s major thoroughfares, was not only flooded with water but also with people and vehicles which were stranded as some portions of the national highway were not passable due to the rising water level on Monday. Photo by Jigger Jerusalem
Heavy rains swamped parts of the Visayas and Northern Mindanao due to a low pressure area (LPA) near Eastern Samar and a tail-end of a cold front, causing massive floods in several areas.
Thousands were stranded in schools, offices and roads on Monday in Cagayan de Oro city and parts of Misamis Oriental after the two weather disturbances triggered flooding from the incessant heavy rains.
Forced evacuation was also implemented in the villages of Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Lumbia, Tuburan, Pagalungan, Sansimon, Iponan, Blua, Pagatpat, Canitoan and the residents near Iponan River.
Rescue teams have been deployed to assist stranded commuters.
Major shopping malls such as Limketkai Center, Centrio Mall and SM also extended their operating hours to provide refuge to stranded civilians.
A state of calamity in the city was declared by local officials early Tuesday.
READ: State of calamity declared in inundated Cagayan de Oro
In Bohol, the villages of Poblacion Ondol, Villadolid, Jimilian, Villaflor, Camayaan, Gotozon, Canlasid and Ugpong were inundated by floods on Monday afternoon, even reaching up to waist-deep.
READ: 3 missing in rough waters off Bohol
In Cebu, classes were suspended on Monday due to the heavy rains and rising water levels in different areas.
In Leyte, the floods triggered the suspension of classes and work in government offices in Tacloban City and six towns. Hundreds were evacuated from their homes.
READ: Classes, gov’t work suspended in Tacloban, 6 towns due to floods
As of 3 a.m. Tuesday, floods have started to subside in some major roads of Cagayan de Oro City, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office:
- Kauswagan Highway
- Gaabucayan Road
- CM Recto-Puregold-Lapasan
- Villarin St – Carmen
- Max Suniel St – Carmen
- AFPSLAI Patag Road
- Serina St. – Carmen
- Gumamela St – Carmen
- Zayas Landfill
- Bulua Highway
- Kong Hua Kauswagan
- JR Borja Extension
As of midday Tuesday, the state weather bureau said that moderate to occasionally heavy rains were still expected over Visayas and Northern Mindanao and Caraga due to a tail-end of a cold front.
READ: Visayas, Mindanao to get more rain on Tuesday
The LPA last spotted east northeast of Zamboanga has dissipated, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. IDL/rga
