Residents evacuated as rivers overflow in Bohol towns

Torrential rainfail triggered by Tropical Storm “Agaton” caused the river in Sevilla town in Bohol to overflow on Monday night, Jan. 1, 2018, flooding several rice fields. (Contributed photo by BITOY GUATNO)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Torrential rainfall triggered by Tropical Depression “Agaton” caused rivers to overflow in some towns of Bohol province on Monday night, triggering floods.

Bitoy Guatno, a resident of Barangay Lagtangan in Sevilla town, was monitoring the Sevilla River since morning when the rains started.

Guatno, 37, said the Sevilla River had overflowed and flooded the ricefields.

Sevilla Vice Mayor Richard Bucag said they were now conducting close monitoring, especially of areas prone to flooding and landslides, such as the villages of Lagtangan, Calinginan Sur, Guinob-an and some parts of Poblacion.

He said residents, especially those near the riverbanks and low-lying areas, were also advised to be vigilant.

“The gymnasium and barangay halls are ready for possible evacuation especially the moment water starts to rise or movements on the ground are observed,” Bucag said.

Moderate to occasional heavy rainfall hit Candijay town on Monday afternoon.

Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, Candijay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, said that at least 38 families were pre-emptively evacuated in Candijay on Monday evening.

Of the 38 families, 24 were from Barangay Cambane and 14 were from Sitio Cabungan in Barangay Cadapdapan.

According to Fuentes, these barangays – about 8 kms from the town proper– are landslide-prone areas.

A total f 154 individuals temporarily took shelter at Tambongan National High School and Cadapdapan Elementary School. Relief goods were given to the affected families.

In Loboc town, local officials had been monitoring the river.

As of 9:45 p.m. Monday, the water level had reached the orange level, which prompted the local disaster and risk reduction office to prepare all the basic needs for possible evacuation.

The water in Batuan town had reached knee-level in Sitio Kilaton Poblacion on Monday night.

According to Batuan Vice Mayor Yes Tirol-Dumagan, at least 10 families of Barangay Sta. Cruz had been evacuated in Batuan. /atm