Mudslides bury houses in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Close to 80 families appealed for help after their houses were buried by mudslides on Monday in Santa Ana town in Cagayan province.

Seven of the houses were completely covered with mud while 10 other houses were damaged at Sitio Dalupang in Barangay San Vicente.

Santa Ana town declared a state of calamity due to

the floods and mudslides to allow the local government to use its funds to initiate relief operations.

Gerlie Rambunay, who lost a house, said the families had been cramped inside the barangay hall of San Vicente. Other families moved with relatives while others stayed in evacuation sites, she said.

An Agta community in Sitio Dalupang, Kapanikian and Rapuli had also been isolated, she added.

Massive flooding continued in Cagayan due to monsoon rains, forcing Gov. Manuel Mamba to suspend classes in all school levels for the second day on Tuesday. —Villamor Visaya Jr.