By Erwin M. Mascariñas
Correspondent
CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur — The Office of Civil Defense and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council has released a consolidated data on the aftermath of Tropical Storm Basyang.
According to the consolidated situational report prepared by the OCD and RDRRMC, the total number of deaths brought by the storm in Caraga Region has reached to 10 individuals.
In the town of Lanuza in Surigao del Sur, authorities have found the two children who have been missing since Tuesday when their house was hit by the rush of flood waters.
The town of Carrascal is yet to give out it’s final assessment of the number of houses that were partly and totally destroyed by both flash floods and landslide when it hit several of their communities.
“The largest community that was hit in Carrascal is Barangay Babuyan. An order was already given for a force evacuation of all the residents while our local government is yet to assess the dangers of the area. The main road leading to the center of the barangay is yet to be cleared from the landslides and the hanging bridge, which served as an alternate route in Sitio Cabadjangan had been totally destroyed, so the entire barangay had been totally cut off except for some parts of it,” said Insp. Allen Dogao, chief of police, municipality of Carrascal.
Dogao while conducting search and rescue pointed out that several residents were even reluctant from living their homes but the force evacuation order has forced the remaining residents to leave their homes.
As of press time, there are around 150 families or about 578 individuals in the town of Carrascal who are displaced and are seeking refuge at the town gymnasium.
The OCD report points out that during the height of the storm on Tuesday, a total of 9,470 families or 38,906 individuals were internally displaced at 152 evacuation centers throughout caraga Region. As of Feb. 14, the number of displaced has dropped to 4,408 families or around 17,800 individuals.
Surigao del Norte has the largest number of evacuees at 7,630 families or 31, 676 individuals with the lake town of Mainit having around 2,712 families or 12, 144 individuals.
A report from the Department of Public Works and Highways revealed that as of press time the Cuyago Road in the town of Jaboanga is still not passable while the San Roque Road in Kitcharao town is passable with only one lane.
The DPWH Caraga Region also added that Jaliobong Bridge in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte is now passable to all types of vehicles. While work on Magtiago Bridge in Alegria, Surigao del Norte is underway. Puyo bridge in the town of Jaboanga in Agusan del Norte is passable only to motorcyles.
Vehicles travelling from Butuan City to Surigao City are advised to take the longer route to Tandag City.
“We are still waiting for the final reports from the different municipality for the over-all damage assessment that will guide our plan for rehabilitation,” said Liza Mazo, regional director, OCD and RDRRMC.
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