By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PNA) — Butuan City is still on alert level 3 due to flooding brought by the heavy rains of Tropical Depression “Agaton.”
The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) is on “search and rescue” mode assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The CDRRMO reported that 82 of the 86 barangays were already affected by flood waters. A total of 9,924 families or 48,071 individuals are affected, according to Ms. Geo Pacot, of the CDRRMO research and planning designate.
The number of affected families is still expected to increase as the water level in Agusan River continues to rise. As of 10:00 a.m. Monday, CDRRMO monitored its water level at 4.24 meters.
Most affected are the riverside barangays of Buhangin, Mahogany, Banza and Maug. The CDRRMO is calling for volunteers and rescue boats as more families from these barangays are calling for assistance.
Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. suspended on Monday works and classes including banking due to continuous moderate to occasionally heavy rains.
TD “Agaton” according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is located at 230 kilometers southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
While “Agaton” dissipated Monday as a low pressure area (LPA), Public Storm Signal No. 1 is now lifted in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Agusan del Norte, but remains in effect over Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.(PNA)