Butuan City under flood alert -- NDRRMC

MANILA – Butuan City in Mindanao was placed on flood alert with the rising water level of the Agusan River due to rains brought by a low pressure area (LPA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

The NDRRMC said that a rise of two meters above sea level was recorded at the river on Wednesday prompting the agency to raise flood alert level 1 in Butuan City.

Residents were advised to be vigilant for possible flash flood, landslide and prepare for possible preemptive evacuation.

As of his posting, the NDRRMC said no untoward incident had been reported in the area.

Ankle-deep rainwaters inundate a street beside a university in Butuan City. The National Risk Reduction Management Council raised flood alert in Butuan due to continuous rains brought by Low Pressure Area. (Photo by Jomae Imus)

The NDRRMC said the floods triggered by the LPA off Mindanao affected 651 families or 3,195 people in the regions of Davao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City). Heavily affected are General Santos City, Sarangani, and Compostela Valley but no casualties were reported.

The NDRRMC said it remains on red alert and continuously monitoring and disseminating weather advisories.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration warned of possible flash floods and landslides in parts of Mindanao due to the LPA. (PNA/Sunnex)