21,000 evacuated as ‘Amang’ weakens

FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE Heavy rain in Davao Oriental province from Monday night to early Tuesday triggered flash floods in Manay town, sweeping away vehicles and houses. —PONG MATUCO SIMILATAN / CONTRIBUTOR

Although Tropical Depression “Amang” had weakened into a low pressure area on Tuesday, more than 5,000 families were taken to safer ground in 13 provinces, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

Reports from the NDRRMC said 5,256 families, or at least 21,000 people, were evacuated in Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Most of those affected by moderate to heavy rains brought by Amang were in the Caraga region.

Heavy rain

A total of 1,158 families (4,600 people) were affected in the region. Of the number, 682 families or more than 2,700 people sought refuge in 23 evacuation centers in 33 villages.

Most of those affected were in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

On Tuesday, a woman died and two others were reported missing when landslides and flash floods hit three towns in Davao Oriental province, disaster response officials said.

Luzviminda Magbutong, 38, drowned in a flash flood that hit Barangay San Ignacio in Manay town, said Leslie Francisco, spokesperson for the Office of Civil Defense in southern Mindanao.

Francisco identified the missing as Ariane Magbutang, 9, and Marilyn Maungat, 38. Two others, Adrian, 40, and Rhea, 5, both surnamed Magbutong, were hurt.

Tarragona and Caraga towns were affected by landslides while most areas in Manay were flooded after rivers overflowed, according to Karen Deloso, provincial information officer.

Thunderstorm

“The rain started at 11 p.m. on Monday and eased only around 4 a.m. on Tuesday. By 3 a.m. floodwaters reached rooftops of most houses,” said Pong Similatan, a resident of San Ignacio.

Francisco said four houses were destroyed in his village.

Landslides were reported in the villages of Dadong, Cabagayan, Tomoaong and Maganda in Tarragona, Santiago in Caraga town, and in Mayo, Mati City.

Classes in elementary and high schools were suspended in Caraga, Deloso said.

Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang ordered relief goods to be sent to the affected communities.

Officials said the heavy downpour may have been caused by thunderstorm and was not directly related to Amang. —Reports from Jeannette Andrade and Frinston Lim