OVER 13,000 families in Caraga region were evacuated due to flooding caused by “Auring" (international name Dujuan), which weakened into a tropical depression Sunday night, February 21, 2021.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal said a total of 13,725 families were brought to 332 evacuation centers.
“May landslide din pong naganap diyan sa may Caraga region pero wala naman po itong naidulot na pinsala doon sa mga kababayan natin. Mukhang merong daan na naharangan dahil dito,” he said in a television interview.
Timbal said 44 houses in Caraga were damaged while 2,027 passengers were stranded in ports after sea travel was suspended.
As of 8 a.m. the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said TD Auring was heading towards Eastern Samar at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal number 1 (30-60 kph winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours):
- Luzon
Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Catanduanes, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)
- Visayas
Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu (Balamban, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Asturias, Danao City, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tuburan, Borbon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Toboso, Escalante City, Calatrava), the eastern portion of Capiz (Cuartero, Dumarao, Ma-Ayon, Pontevedra, Panay, President Roxas, Panitan, Dao, Pilar), and the eastern portion of Iloilo (Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles, San Rafael, Passi City, Barotac Viejo, Banate, San Enrique)
- Mindanao
Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte
The weather bureau said the combined effects of the northeast monsoon and Auring will bring strong breeze conditions with occasionally higher gusts over the areas under TCWS number 1, as well as over Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portions of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region in the next 24 hours.
Isolated to scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are still likely during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards, Pagasa said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)