NDRRMC: Toddler missing as floods hit Surigao City

Authorities in Caraga region in Mindanao are searching for a child who was reported missing as floods hit Surigao City, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday.   The NDRRMC identified the child as Roan Libres, one year and seven months old, of San Roque village in Surigao City.   Local authorities in Surigao del Norte are also inspecting the swollen river at Jubgan village in Malimono town, the NDRRMC added on its 8:00 a.m. update on Tuesday.   Surigao was among the areas reported flooded as of early Tuesday, following heavy rain brought by a low pressure area (LPA), also known as a low pressure system or cyclone. Encyclopedia Britannica described a cyclone as "any large system of winds that circulates about a center of low atmospheric pressure."  The Weather Channel, on the other hand, explained that a cyclone is an area with rotating and converging winds. Waist-high floods   Earlier, NDRRMC head Benito Ramos cited reports reaching him indicating the floods reached waist-high levels in some areas in Surigao and Agusan provinces. In an interview over radio dzBB on Tuesday, Ramos said several areas in Surigao and Agusan had to be closed to traffic due to the floodwaters. "Closed ang traffic dahil (hanggang) baywang ang tubig baha doon. Sa Daang Maharlika ng Surigao del Norte, closed traffic dahil sa baha. (Sa) Agusan del Sur at North Bayugan City at San Francisco, baha na rin ito kaya closed traffic," he said.   On the other hand, the NDRRMC said 447 families (or 1,896 people) from 14 villages in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat and Agusan del Sur had been evacuated to safer ground.   The NDRRMC said at least three roads and bridges in Agusan del Sur have been rendered impassable due to the floods. These include:

• Butuan-Talacogon-Loreto-Veruela-Sta.Josefa Road (detour of Mambaos Balley Bridge II K1391+747)
• Sta. Maria Bridge NRJ Cuevas-Bislig road
• Daang Maharlika (Rosario section) K1323+925+K1324+230 (impassable to light vehicles)

No cyclone but still rainy On Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said after the deadly tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi), there will be no more cyclone for the rest of the year but  the New Year weekend may be rainy.