At least 3,500 evacuated due to flooding in Cagayan, Isabela

At least 3,500 individuals have been evacuated as of Sunday noon in Cagayan and Isabela due to flooding.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba told Super Radyo dzBB that around 2,500 individuals were evacuated in the province, of whom, 1,400 are in Tuguegarao City and the rest in Enrile and Solana.

Meanwhile, Isabela Governor Rodito Albano also told Super Radyo dzBB their evacuees are around 1,000 as of posting time.

Cagayan

"Dumadami ang aming mga evacuees," Mamba said.

"Medyo mabilis tumaas ang tubig galing sa Cagayan River," he added, noting that the level of the river was already at 11 meters as of 11 a.m. on Sunday. 

"Last time, umabot tayo ng 13 meters," Mamba said.

"Kaya nag-aanticipate din kami na 'pag hindi humupa ang ulan, talagang mauulit ang nangyari sa amin one month ago," he said, referring to last month's situation wherein many residents had to seek refuge on their roofs as floodwaters continued to rise.

Mamba said the provincial government is already on red alert.

The 1,400 evacuees in Tuguegarao are from 15 barangays, he said.

"Ina-anticipate namin paglaki ng tubig hanggang mamayang gabi dahil open pa rin 'yung Magat Dam. Nag-aanticipate kami na lalaki pa ito lalong lalo na kung hindi pa huhupa ang ulan," Mamba said.

The governor said the affected communities are Tuguegarao, Enrile, Solana, and Amulung.

"Almost all the stretch of Cagayan River ... ay magkakaroon ng flooding," he said, "pero ang worst, dito sa Tuguegarao, Enrile, Solana, as far as Amulung." 

Residents have expressed fears that there would be a repeat of the recent widespread flooding.

"Karamihan kasi may takot na, may phobia. Baka abutin sila ng gabi, tatakbo na 'yan sa mga evacuation centers at sa mga adopt-a-neighbor nila," Mamba said.

The governor said rain continues to pour over Cagayan as of midday.

"Nag-preprepare kami sa worst na scenario. Walang stop pa rin. Umuulan pa rin. Sa gabi, grabe ang ulan. Talagang nag-uulan pa. Hopefully diyan sa bandang Isabela, Vizcaya, hindi katulad dito," he added.

Isabela

At least one person was reported missing amid the flooding in Isabela, Albano said.

"May isa. Mataas ang ilog, rumaragasa, lumangoy pa, tumawid. Ayon, nawala," he said, adding that authorities are looking for that person.

Albano said they are monitoring not just Cagayan River but also Pinacanauan River which is one of the tributaries of Cagayan River.

"'Yung tubig sa Pinacanauan River sa bandang Sierra Madre, mukhang rumagasa ang tubig. Kapag ‘yung tributary na ‘yun bumababa, naapektuhan pati ang Cagayan, nagkakaroon ng catch basin na naman dahil hindi na nakakaalis ‘yung tubig dun sa may bandang lower Cagayan area," he said.

Albano also said a portion of the national highway in Cabagan was rendered impassable due to flooding.

"Nahati ang national highway," he said, but said there are alternate routes motorists could use.

Albano said ten towns have been affected by the flooding. Some bridges were flooded as well, rendering roads not passable.

The governor said they will resume the giving of cash subsidies under the Social Amelioration Program and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment this week after the floods subside.

Red Cross

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman and CEO of Philippine Red Cross, said their volunteers and staff are helping families evacuate.

"Sila ngayon ay nasa Bgy. Lanna, Enrile at lilibot pa sa ibang parte ng probinsya," Gordon said on Twitter on Sunday.

The Cagayan River reached the above critical level on Sunday morning, and PAGASA warned of widespread flooding.

Both Cagayan and Isabela experienced widespread flooding in November amid heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco).

Six gates of Magat Dam in Isabela were opened Saturday, and of these, four remained open as of 9 a.m. on Sunday.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains which may be intense at times will be experienced on Sunday over mainland Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region and northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced in Babuyan Islands, Metro Manila, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.

These weather conditions are due to the combined effects of Tropical Depression Vicky, the tail-end of a Frontal System (Shear Line), and low pressure area, PAGASA said. —KG, GMA News