TUGUEGARAO CITY – Disaster responders in this city and the towns of Sanchez Mira and Camalaniugan in Cagayan province have been evacuating residents since Saturday until Sunday, November 21 and 22, as rivers swelled and flooded low-lying areas due to heavy rains induced by the shearline and northeast monsoon, officials said.
Sanchez Mira Mayor Abraham Bagasin on Sunday said the disaster responders initiated forced and preemptive evacuation in the villages of Labbeng, Baleg and Taguipuro and Sitio (subvillage) Pataga of Santiago.
In the Pataga area, disaster responders used rubber boats to evacuate villagers as the floods had isolated some areas in the community.
Bagasin said villagers were asked to fully cooperate with disaster responders to ensure everyone’s safety.
In Tuguegarao City, at least 84 families or 297 people stayed at the evacuation center in Annafunan East Integrated School on Saturday night due to the swelling of the Cagayan and Pinacanuan Rivers, submerging low-lying areas in the village of Annafunan East.
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Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon Team Alpha and Team Bravo members spearheaded the evacuation.
In Camalaniugan town, Mayor Isidro Cabaddu said also implemented on Saturday the forced evacuation of residents of flooded communities close to the swollen Cagayan and Pinacanauan Rivers. /jpv