Floods, landslides wreak havoc in Cagayan, Isabela

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Floods and landslides have affected 1,382 families in northern parts of Cagayan due to bad weather caused by typhoon Ulysses, officials said on Wednesday.
    Cagayan Provincial Information Officer Rogelio Sending Jr. said floods in the province reached four-feet high in some areas in Aparri, Pamplona, Sta. Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Ballesteros, Lal-lo, Camalaniugan, Lasam, and Tuguegarao City.
    Around 4,779 individuals in 35 barangays were affected by the floods in these areas. Some115 families or 447 persons were evacuated.
    Rescue officials have warned villagers from going out as rivers continue to swell and non-stop rains caused floods and landslides in the region.
    In Isabela, 47 families or 200 people were evacuated in Cabatuan and San Isidro while some bridges — Baculod and Cabiseria 8 in Ilagan; Alicaocao, Sipat and Villa Concepcion in Cauayan; Cansan in Cabagan and Santa Maria towns — are still submerged in floods, Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Jimmy Rivera said.
    In Quirino, three families or 22 persons were evacuated in Saguday town, the civil defense office report said.
    In Nueva Vizcaya, eight families or 27 persons were evacuated in Aritao, Dupax del Norte, and Kasibu due to floods and landslides.

At least 716 families who were isolated in Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino were rescued, the OCD added.