Some 41,000 people displaced by Agusan Sur flood

 

The Agusan del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported on Thursday that 40,946 people living in low lying barangays were affected as rivers and creeks in the area overflowed.

 

The report said 22 of the 745 damaged houses were washed away by flash flood in Barangays Cabawan, Tagbayagan, Novele, Libuac and Poblacion, all in Rosario town.

 

Armando Gomez, chief of Staff of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, said 13, 971 people are temporarily housed in 10 evacuation centers in towns of  San Francisco, Rosario, Loreto, San Luis and Bayugan City.

 

Ten barangays were flooded in Rosario; eight in Loreto; five in San Francisco; three in San Luis; and one in Bayugan City, the report said.

 

Also, Gomez said several barangays near the Agusan River  in La Paz town were reportedly hit by flash flood when the river overflowed. Agusan River is the "main stem" of tributary rivers from Davao and Agusan del Sur.

 

At least four barangays – Bataan, Osmena Sr, Panagan-an and San Patricio  in La Paz  – are considered by the PDRRMO as “flood prone. ”

 

Gomez said medical teams have been dispatched to evacuation centers to monitor the health and sanitation. He said a relief team led by Vice Governor Santiago Cane had distributed rice and relief goods to evacuees including 426 sacks of rice to flood victims in La Paz.

 

Damage to property, livestock, agriculture and infrastructures were not yet determined. No casualties were also reported, at least for now. — Alden Pantaleon /LBG, GMA News