Two Cagayan towns under state of calamity due to flooding

The towns of Allacapan and Claveria in the northern Luzon province of Cagayan have been placed under state of calamity due to flooding caused by constant rain.

In an interview on Balitanghali on Thursday, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said all northeastern towns were affected by the flood.

"Ang involved po dito ngayon is you have 77 barangays, 7 towns, about 2,091 families, and about 6,400 individuals," Mamba said.

There was also a reported casualty in Claveria due to land erosion, and another reported casualty in Baggao, according to Mamba. There were no other details provided on the accidents.

Rescue operations are ongoing in some areas.

"In some areas po, kasi kalat-kalat po kasi, kalat-kalat ito. Kaya pati yung mga assets namin nakakalat din po. Iba ibang town," Mamba said.

The Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, provincial disaster coordinating assets, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, among others, are conducting the rescue operations.

According to Mamba, they did not need any aid from other provinces as of Thursday as all local units were on the move. He also reminded residents to coordinate with authorities and each other.

"Gamitin po natin yung organized group stopping sa bawat purok. Alam niyo naman palaging panlaban sa kalamidad na katulad nito. Galing na tayo sa dalawang super typhoons so kaya po natin ito," he said.

"Napakaimportante lang magtutulungan po lahat yung magkakapitbahay dahil organized naman tayo. So magtutulungan po [at] makinig po tayo sa radyo, makinig po tayo sa announcement para alam po natin kung ano gagawin natin," Mamba added.

The governor also appealed to residents to cooperate during forced evacuations.

"Pangalawa po kapag meron po forced evacuation, wag na po kayo mag insist na mag i-stay pa. Sumama po tayo sa kanila para masigurado natin na maliligtas natin lalong lalo na mismo yung mga sarili natin. Napaka importante po nito," Mamba said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News