Floodwaters have risen to roof-level in 22 barangays across Tuguegarao City as the Cagayan River overflowed, reaching critical levels.

In Baggao, at least four homes were washed away by raging river water.

Pong Corpuz, an officer from Baggao’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), confirmed aid was on the way.

“Nagdala na kami ng bigas, foodpacks at mga kumot. Ibinigay namin sa mga affected na residente,” Corpuz said.

Across Cagayan, aerial inspections showed extensive flooding, particularly in Solana and Alcala, where the public market in Solana was also submerged.

In Buguey, floodwaters reached knee-deep levels at Quinawegan Elementary School.

Market vendors in Tuguegarao City scrambled to pack their goods as water rose quickly.

“Kaunti pa lang ang nadala namin dito kasi nag-akyat din kami ng paninda noong [Bagyong] Marce, [tapos] ngayon ulit... Mabilis ang tubig 30 to 40 minutes lang andiyan na tubig,” Carmina Talamayan, a vendor, said.

“Mabilis ang tubig sobra,” Ruel de Leon, another vendor, added.

Residents hurried to secure belongings, with some setting up makeshift tents on the streets.

“Nagmamadali na kaming lumikas kasi andiyan na ‘yung tubig,” Julie Yoman, a resident, said.

By morning of Tuesday, November 12, flood levels had reached the rooftops, forcing many to evacuate.

“Naapektuhan na po sila sa mga pangyayari, hirap na po sila sa mga pangyayari,” Mariano Baylon Jr., Barangay chairman of Barangay Centro 10 in Tuguegarao, said.

Nearly 1,000 families, totaling over 3,000 individuals, are now in evacuation centers, where they await the waters to subside.

As they brace for Tropical Storm Ofel, Tuguegarao’s DRRM officer, Dr. Roderick Ramirez, warned, “The problem is not going back, but evacuating them kapag dumating ang bagyo mahihirapan na tayong ilikas sila ulit.”

With roads and bridges still impassable and power outages in several towns, the entire province of Cagayan remains under a state of calamity, and officials have already requested additional funds from the national government to replenish depleted disaster funds.