9 villages in Aurora isolated due to floods
Heavy rains since Tuesday night caused floods that isolated residents in at least nine villages in Casiguran town in Aurora province, even as state weather forecasters said there is no cyclone presently in Philippine territory.
Aurora Governor Bella Castillo said early Wednesday that she has ordered the forced evacuation of families in the affected areas, after they refused earlier calls to flee.
"Yung ulan hanggang ngayon [bumubuhos]. Yung ulan kagabi tuluy-tuloy, nangyayari yan nagpabaha sa siyam na barangay sa Casiguran (It has been raining since Tuesday night, and nine villages in Casiguran have been flooded)," Castillo said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Casiguran is a third class town with a population of 22,403 people in 4,366 households. The municipality has 24 barangays (villages). The exact number of villagers affected by the floods was unknown as of posting time.
No cyclone
Ironically, state weather forecasters said there was no cyclone in Philippine territory as of late Tuesday. Tropical Depression Tino, which was earlier projected to hit Aurora, had weakened on Tuesday morning.
A separate report on dzXL radio said the Philippine Coast Guard has sent teams to Casiguran to help in the rescue operations.
Castillo said she had ordered the evacuation of the flood-prone areas since Tuesday when the rains started to fall, but residents did not heed her.
She said many of the families appeared to think that since they were spared by recent cyclones, they did not feel the need to flee.
"Except for two families na pumayag lumikas, ang iba hindi (Only two families agreed to evacuate. The others did not)," she said.
The governor said she had contacted the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army to forcibly evacuate the residents.
She also said she contacted the Department of Public Works and Highways to deploy heavy equipment and dump trucks to help in the evacuation.
"Ang sabi ko sa Army at PNP, mag-force evacuation na (I asked the Army and local police to start forced evacuation)," she said. - GMANews.TV
Aurora Governor Bella Castillo said early Wednesday that she has ordered the forced evacuation of families in the affected areas, after they refused earlier calls to flee.
"Yung ulan hanggang ngayon [bumubuhos]. Yung ulan kagabi tuluy-tuloy, nangyayari yan nagpabaha sa siyam na barangay sa Casiguran (It has been raining since Tuesday night, and nine villages in Casiguran have been flooded)," Castillo said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Casiguran is a third class town with a population of 22,403 people in 4,366 households. The municipality has 24 barangays (villages). The exact number of villagers affected by the floods was unknown as of posting time.
No cyclone
Ironically, state weather forecasters said there was no cyclone in Philippine territory as of late Tuesday. Tropical Depression Tino, which was earlier projected to hit Aurora, had weakened on Tuesday morning.
A separate report on dzXL radio said the Philippine Coast Guard has sent teams to Casiguran to help in the rescue operations.
Castillo said she had ordered the evacuation of the flood-prone areas since Tuesday when the rains started to fall, but residents did not heed her.
She said many of the families appeared to think that since they were spared by recent cyclones, they did not feel the need to flee.
"Except for two families na pumayag lumikas, ang iba hindi (Only two families agreed to evacuate. The others did not)," she said.
The governor said she had contacted the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army to forcibly evacuate the residents.
She also said she contacted the Department of Public Works and Highways to deploy heavy equipment and dump trucks to help in the evacuation.
"Ang sabi ko sa Army at PNP, mag-force evacuation na (I asked the Army and local police to start forced evacuation)," she said. - GMANews.TV
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
