Damage of flashflood in Butuan City amounts to P2.4M, officials say

By Robert E. Roperos

Tuesday 10th of July 2012

BUTUAN CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- The flash flood that hit this city on midnight of Sunday caused P2.4 million damages in infrastructure and agriculture, officials of the city engineering and agriculture departments here said.

In a text message sent by Jennifer Michelle Divinagracia of the city's public information office to PIA-Caraga, the estimated cost of damage caused by the flash flood on July 8 reached P2 million in infrastructure according to Engr. Lorden Vismanos, officer-in-charge of the city engineering office here, while OIC City Agriculturist Alberto Buca estimated the damage to agriculture at P400,000.

Earlier report of the city PIO here said 42 households were affected by the flash flood in the city’s internal barangays of Salvacion, Lemon and Camayahan.

Of the total houses affected, eight were totally washed out. Two school buildings were also flooded.

In Barangay Camayahan, two hanging bridges were washed out, while one steel bridge was damaged, making it impassable to vehicles. The city PIO however said no casualties were reported.

On Sunday evening, 38 families were evacuated to barangay halls and covered courts because of the flash flood that occurred midnight after heavy rains fell early in the evening and ceased at dawn on Monday.

Personnel from the city mayor’s office together with the city Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) immediately responded in the area and attended to the victims.

City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. is scheduled to visit the area and distribute some relief goods to victims.

The Butuan Search And Rescue Team (BuSART) is on its 24-hour operation in attending to the needs of the victims and in clearing the debris on highways of said barangays. (RER/PIA 13-Caraga)