CRIES for help can be heard on top of the roofs of flooded houses in Barangays Bugo and Puerto of Cagayan de Oro and nearby Barangay Casinglot of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental as heavy rains continuously pummeled some parts of Northern Mindanao yesterday morning.
A number of helpless residents with their children in tow shared live videos on Facebook of their life-threatening situation above the ceilings in a desperate effort to draw the attention of would-be rescuers.
Local journalist Nelson Constantino reported one death, involving his neighbor in Bugo due to the flood.
“It was tragedy near me. And I have my own (footage) as bystanders carry our neighbor to a waiting pick up which brought him to the hospital after he was found stacked over by his motorcycle downstairs of their two-storey house at Zone 5, Bugo, CDOC. He was reportedly trying to salvage his motorcycle but slid above waist-level floodwater and was only discovered minutes later. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival at the Puerto Community Hospital,” Constantino said of the former security guard whom he identified only as a certain Nong Totoy.
In a Facebook post today, City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Engr. Armen Cuenca identified the fatality as Artemio Gonzales of Zone 5, Lower Bugo.
“(Siya) gi cremate diha sa atong City Memorial Park human ang opisina ni Mayor Klarex Uy kauban ang iyang mga staff nga mao gayud ang nag atiman ug nagpahiluna sa maong biktima,” Cuenca’s public post reads in part.
Heavy downpours in Bukidnon, according to some netizens, may have contributed to the sudden rise of waters in the said areas.
“First time since we arrived here in 1994. Grabe nga baha,” wrote one Perry Rafanan Benedictos.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy has ordered the suspension of classes in all levels in Barangays Bugo and Puerto today.
“Let us continue to pray for the rain to stop. Our whole team from CDRRMD and CSWD are currently performing rescue operations and immediate intervention (for) the families affected. The Puerto evacuation center and community kitchen have already been activated,” said City Disaster Chief Nick Jabagat.
The Tagoloan Dome, meanwhile, served as an evacuation center for the affected families in Casinglot and some other barangays of Tagoloan town.
“Mga lumolupyo sa Barangay Casinglot gilayon giatiman nga mapahimutang layo sa kakuyaw sa ilang kinabuhi. Kasamtangan gipahigayon ang hugot nga koordinasyon tali ni Mayor Atty. Nadya Emano-Elipe ug sa pangagamhanang Probinsyal uban sa Amahan sa Lalawigan Gov. Peter ‘Sr. Pedro’ Unabia ug ni 2nd District Representative Cong. Bambi Emano aron mapaabot ang ayuda nga gikinahanglan sa atong mga kaigsoonan nga nabiktima sa kalamidad,” said Lyn Paguidopon Sabellano of the Provincial Capitol.
Sabellano said the Tagoloan Dome is now serving at least 68 families and 303 individuals from Barangay Casinglot in the meantime.
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