Cagayan braces for possible effects of Nando

Residents along coastal and riverside areas in Cagayan have prepared to evacuate as warnings are raised on the possible effects of Tropical Depression Nando if it intensifies on Sunday.

According to Nico Waje’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” a resident said rain persisted in the past few days due to tropical depression Mirasol.

Residents raised concern as the dike along the Baua River in Gonzaga town partially collapsed after Typhoon Ofel battered the province last year and Severe Tropical Storm Crising in July.

The continuous rainfall on Wednesday night caused another section of the dike to collapse.

The flood control project along the Baua River was completed in 2019, but after some storms passed, several meters of the project were damaged.

A resident said they transferred to higher ground as the soil began to erode.

Another resident said that despite several storms, the government has yet to repair the dike

Barangay Baua Kagawad Jovelyn Raganit said they were told that repairs would begin in 2026.

The Gonzaga Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Municipal Office (MDRRMO) is preparing solar panels for the evacuation centers, while relief goods, hygiene kits, and cookware are ready to be distributed in the evacuation centers.

The MDRRMO explained that the town is surrounded by water, such as the Babuyan Channel, Buggey Lagoon, and Mission River.

As of 6 p.m., the Gonzaga MDRRMO said the Cagayan River reached 7.8 meters.

Meanwhile, the Capatan overflowing bridge and the Teresa Boulevard in Tuguegarao also experienced flooding. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News