SURIGAO CITY – Still reeling from the effects of a strong earthquake and equally powerful aftershocks, another calamity is threatening Surigao del Norte.
Continuous rains brought about by a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in Caraga region has prompted city and government officials to prepare for potential flashfloods by strengthening quick response and rescue teams of their respective disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs).
The DRRMCs are zeroing on residents living along the coastal, river and creeks and those in flood and landslide-prone areas.
The Local Landslide Monitoring System (LLMS) stationed at Barangay Oslao of San Francisco is already placed on “Alert 1” effective Monday, the same day 145 families were forced to flee their homes due to the swelling of Lake Mainit.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas called on residents “Not to wait for rescue teams and run to safer grounds if their lives are already in danger”.
“I am appealing to all Surigaonons to please help in saving lives,” said Matugas.
One died and 25 others were reported injured when a 5.9 magnitude quake rocked the city last Sunday.
The shake is an aftershock of the 6.7 magnitude quake which jolted Surigao City last February 10, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.
The aftershock’s impact reached several areas in Southern Leyte including the municipalities of Limasawa and San Ricardo at Intensity 4 and the towns of San Juan and San Francisco at Intensity 3.
A total power blackout also hit the entire city of Surigao when the strong aftershocks struck. (MIKE U. CRISMUNDO)
