Thousands displaced as floods hit Cagayan anew

TUGUEGARAO CITY , Philippines — At least 7,263 families or 24,840 people were affected by widespread flooding in Cagayan over the weekend, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported yesterday.

The PDRRMO said the towns of Ballesteros, Baggao, Camalaniugan, Iguig, Enrile, Amulung, Lal-lo, Alcala, Solana, Lasam, Aparri and Gattaran were inundated by floodwaters.

Authorities said a laborer was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters in Barangay Cataggamman Viejo on Sunday.

Last month, the province experienced what was considered as the worst flooding in recent history, which was due to rains brought by Typhoon Ulysses and the release of water from Magat Dam.

A spillway gate of the dam remained open yesterday as the water level was recorded at 190.84 meters or less than three meters below its spilling mark.

The water level in Cagayan river also remained critical at 9.9 meters.

Floodwaters have yet to recede in the riverside district in this city, the highway from Lasam to Rizal and low-lying areas in Alcala, Gattaran, Sta. Ana, Peñablanca and Sto. Niño.

Three overflow bridges in Baggao and one each in Amulung, Enrile, Tuao and in this city remain submerged in floodwaters.