Auring causes flooding, power outage in Surigao del Sur

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Auring (international name: Dujuan) caused flooding in Surigao del Sur on Sunday.

Photos shared by Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander "Ayec" Pimentel showed the river in Tandag City swelling, flooding communities located along its banks.

A river in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur overflowed its banks on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Auring (international name: Dujuan) poured.  Photo courtesy: Gov. Ayec Pimentel

"Although hindi pa nag-landfall si Auring, grabe talaga ang pagtaas ng water level dito ngayon," Abel de Guzman, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Surigao del Sur said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Nasa 8,000 na po ang displaced natin," he said.

The number of barangays possibly affected by the storm is 126, located in 17 municipalities, de Guzman added.

Residents wade through a flooded street in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur on Feb. 21, 2021.  Photo courtesy: Sangguniang Bayan Lanuza

"Ang focus muna ng local government units, mailikas 'yung mga in danger na families," he said.

De Guzman said the evacuees are mostly staying in identified evacuation centers where authorities are ensuring health protocols are being observed. Others are staying in homes not affected by floods.

"'Yung mga bahay na medyo malaki, nag-ooffer sila," he said.

Some areas have lost power.

"Dahil sa taas ng tubig, may mga portions na walang kuryente," de Guzman said.

"So far, as of this time, wala pang naitala na nawawala although 'yung iba, unreachable. Pero informed kami na nandu'n pa rin sila," he said.

In the municipality of Lanuza, personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Philippine National Police were rescuing people affected by floods.

Rescuers help evacuate residents in the municipality of Lanuza amid flooding due to Auring on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.  Photo courtesy: Sangguniang Bayan Lanuza

Surigao del Sur is under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as of Sunday morning.

The local government advised the public to coordinate with them for evacuation and other emergency instructions.

Surigao del Norte

Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte has experienced only intermittent rains so far, and no gusty winds yet, but preemptive evacuation has already been implemented.

"As of the moment, intermittent pa ang pag-ulan, wala pang malakas na hangin," Engr. Marilyn Pono, chief of Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Noong Biyernes, ipinag-utos na ang preemptive evacuation at kahapon ipinatupad na ang forced evacuation sa mga coastal area. 5,052 pamilya o 18,590 individuals ang mga nailikas na," she said.

Engr. Pono: 5,052 pamilya o 18,590 individuals ang mga nailikas na. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 21, 2021

Local officials are monitoring low-lying areas and coastal communities. 

"May ilang residente na nagkusang lumikas dahil sa takot sa storm surge," Pono said.

Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2.

Tropical Storm Auring was moving toward the Dinagat Islands-Eastern Samar area as of 11 a.m., PAGASA said.

According to PAGASA, Auring may initially make landfall over the Dinagat Islands and Eastern Samar-Leyte areas on Sunday evening or Monday early morning. —With a report from Pewee Bacuño/KG, GMA News