Surigao City braces for Auring

Schools in Surigao City have been prepared for the expected evacuation of residents who will be affected by Tropical Depression Auring.

Elmer Tecson of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Sunday morning said a total of 21 schools are ready to be turned into evacuation centers.

Tecson said no preemptive evacutions have been ordered as of this posting.

“So far wala pa at this point but we have [prepared] 21 schools for evacuation. This afternoon we will be conducting inspection sa identified schools,” Tecson said in an interview on Balitanghali.

He said rescue units of the CDRRMC have been making rounds in villages, reminding residents to immediately leave their homes should the rains continue.

Tecson said that they are closely monitoring flood- and landslide-prone areas in the city. So far, only one landslide incident has been monitored in the city with no casualties.

Meanwhile, Tecson said that a total of 773 passengers have been stranded at the city's ferry and bus terminals as of 10:45 a.m.

He said food packs have been provided to the stranded passengers. Food packs have also been prepositioned in several areas around the city.

Surigao del Norte, which covers the city, and 19 other areas in Mindanao have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 due to Auring.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Sunday night and early Monday in Surigao del Sur. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News