Farmer missing in flashflood

TUGUEGARAO, Philippines — A 60-year-old farmer was reported missing while at least 2,000 people were displaced by flashfloods in northern Cagayan since Saturday.

Artemio Bumiltac was trying to rescue a water buffalo when he was carried away by floodwaters in Barangay Santiago in Sanchez Mira, according to town police chief Maj. Stanley Banan.

Gov. Manuel Mamba said at least a hundred people were taken to five evacuation centers in Sanchez Mira, 1,466 in Claveria, 858 in Sta. Praxedes and nine in Pamplona.

The flood, spawned by moonson rains, submerged bridges in Sta. Praxedes and triggered landslides that blocked the highway leading to Claveria and Sanchez Mira as well as Calanasan in Apayao.

The Cagayan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said at least 254 hectares of rice farms in four towns were inundated.

The Philippine Marines deployed its Battalion Landing Team-10 to augment search and rescue operations and evacuation of families.