Florita displaces nearly 600 families in Cagayan

At least 589 families or 2,095 individuals were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Florita in Cagayan province.

According to Jasmin Gabriel Galban’s report on “24 Oras”, Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said the affected families belonging to the province’s 15 towns are staying in evacuation centers.

Cagayan experienced heavy rains and strong winds brought by Florita at Around 1 p.m.

The heavy downpours caused flooding and damaged homes and crops in several areas in the province.

Authorities immediately responded to the emergency and started clearing debris from major roads.

The PDRRMO said about 50 villages experienced flooding, with even more flooding expected due to the waters flowing downstream from mountain areas.

So far, bridges and roads in the province were passable except for the Santiago Bridge in the town of Iguig.

As of 5 p.m., data from the PDRRMO showed that two people were also injured due to Florita.

PAGASA said three areas remain under Signal No. 3 as Florita maintained its strength while over the coastal waters of Ilocos Norte. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News