NDRRMC: Surigao floods affect over 18,000

MANILA -- Thousands of people in Surigao del Norte have been affected by the floods trigged by the rains brought by the tail-end of a cold front affecting the Caraga region, the state disaster agency reported Saturday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the floods have affected 3,644 families or 18,334 people in Butuan City and in the towns of Tubod, Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, Gigaquit and Mainit.

At least 2,472 families or 11,148 people are in 29 evacuation centers in 24 villages and one city in the province, the agency said.

Seven houses were damaged in the towns of Alegria and Tubod.

As of Friday, the waters in the previously reported flooded areas have subsided, according to the NDRRMC.

Earlier, the NDRRMC reported flooding incidents in Tubod and Butuan City in Surigao del Norte and in the villages of Sumo-sumo, Tago and San Miguel and Hinayhayan and Sitio Tagmalino, Cagwait in Surigao del Sur.

However, the agency also warned of possible landslides.

"[T]hose situated and passers in landslide prone areas are still given warnings on any possible eventualities due to experienced heavy rains," the NDRRMC said.

The state weather bureau said Saturday that the light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms may be experienced in Northern Mindanao due to the tail-end of the cold front.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon continues to affect Luzon and Visayas. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)