By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Heavy rains ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Cyclone “Tino” on Monday submerged portions of the national highway in Barangay Tagmamarkay in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, rendering it impassable to all types of vehicles for several hours.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Tubay reported in their Facebook post that floodwaters with strong currents cut off traffic at around 1 p.m. “The road is not passable for everyone’s safety. Our responders are on-site for continuous monitoring and assessment. We strongly advise motorists to avoid the area and take alternative routes,” the advisory read.
By 3 p.m., the flood began to subside, allowing large vehicles to pass through Purok 2 of the national highway. However, the MDRRMO warned that small and light vehicles should refrain from crossing due to strong currents and the possibility of water levels rising again.
“Our team, together with partner frontline agencies, is continuously monitoring and managing the situation to ensure everyone’s safety,” the MDRRMO said in a follow-up advisory.
Evacuation operations are ongoing as responders move residents from flooded areas to safer ground. The MDRRMO urged those living in low-lying and flood-prone communities to evacuate early, noting that night-time rescue operations are more dangerous.
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