Almost 6,000 evacuated amid flooding in Cagayan, Isabela

Almost 6,000 individuals were evacuated due to flooding in Isabela and Cagayan as heavy rains poured, rivers overflowed their banks and Magat Dam released water, according to a report by GMA News stringer Bill Visaya on Unang Balita on Monday.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 5,912 individuals or 1,467 families were evacuated in the two provinces so far.

A total of 113 barangays were flooded in the two provinces, according to a report by GMA News stringer TJ Tuddao.

The rains were due to the tail-end of a frontal system as well as the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) enhanced by Tropical Depression Vicky.

Isabela

In Isabela, almost 3,000 individuals or 700 families evacuated as 68 barangays remained flooded.

The affected towns are Sta. Maria, Benito Soliven, San Mariano, San Pablo, Ilagan, Cabagan, Cordon, Tumauini, Cauayan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, San Isidro, and Quezon.

The evacuees in Cabagan were given assistance on Sunday night.

The Divisoria Bridge in San Pablo was flooded and passable only to large trucks. The bridge connects Isabela to Cagayan.

Nine other bridges in Isabela were flooded. There were also flooded bridges in Cagayan. 

On Monday morning, the flooding is starting to subside in Isabela, but the floodwaters are expected to go down to Cagayan.

Authorities are still looking for a man reported missing after he tried crossing the swollen Pinacanauan River, according to a report by Saleema Refran on Unang Balita on Monday.

The man reportedly was not able to go home for two days and got worried for his two children, thus he tried to cross the river.

Isabela Governor Rodito Albano on Sunday said they are monitoring Pinacanauan River which is one of the tributaries of Cagayan River.

"Kapag ‘yung tributary na ‘yun bumababa, naaapektuhan pati ang Cagayan, nagkakaroon ng catch basin na naman dahil hindi na nakakaalis ‘yung tubig dun sa may bandang lower Cagayan area," he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Happyland in Isabela brought their belongings to the second floor of their houses as floodwaters entered their homes.

Cagayan

In Barangay Annafunan East in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, floodwaters were calf-deep in some areas, posing a challenge to smaller vehicles.

Fifteen roads and bridges in Tuguegarao were flooded and were rendered not passable, the Cagayan Public Information Office said.

At 3 a.m., the water level of Cagayan River at Buntun Bridge in Cagayan was at 11.57 meters, which is at the critical level. It reached 11.66 meters on Sunday night.

Police Regional Office 2 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Crizaldo Nieves ordered police units to coordinate with local government units for the preemptive and forced evacuation of residents.

Five gates of Magat Dam remained open and were releasing water as of 3 a.m. Monday, according to National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Irrigation System (MARIIS).

The dam's water level at its reservoir was at 191.05 meters as of that time, a few meters away from its spilling level of 193 meters. —KG, GMA News