Residents, authorities in Caraga provinces brace for Samuel

Residents and authorities in parts of Mindanao have started preparations for the expected landfall of Tropical Depression Samuel on Tuesday.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, some passengers were stranded at the port in Surigao City as the Philippine Coast Guard started implementing the 'no sailing policy' due to inclement weather.

The Office of Civil Defense in the whole Caraga region has also been placed on red alert because threats of flash floods and landslides are present in some of its critical areas.

"Ngayon pa lang we advise the local government units na magpre-emptive evacuation na especially 'yung coastal barangays saka 'yung mountainous areas na may high-susceptibility to landslide at 'yung mga river channels na marami dito sa Caraga region," OCD Caraga Regional Director Liza Mazo said.

The OCD added that the chances of having landslides are high because of the rampant small-scale mining activities in the region but the local government can order operations to stop during inclement weather.

"We are expecting na naka-evacuate na sila. Nakababa na, no operation. 'Yun ang mino-monitor natin," Mazo said.

The chances of having landslides are high because of the rampant small-scale mining activities in the area, OCD said.

Rescue assets and uniformed personnel in Caraga were already pre-positioned.

Classes in pre-school and elementary were suspended in the provinces likely to be hit by the tropical depression.

Meanwhile, classes up to the college level were already suspended in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte. —NB/BAP, GMA News