By Michelle Ducut
Over 4, 400 families in the Cagayan Region have been forced to evacuate their homes due to a series of typhoons that have battered the region since late September.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 2 reported that as of Monday, November 18, 2024, 4, 472 families or 14, 648 individuals were staying in evacuation centers, while 1,415 families or 4,833 individuals were seeking shelter with friends or relatives.
The number of displaced individuals is expected to increase as local authorities implement preemptive evacuations due to rising water levels in rivers and potential flooding. The opening of six spillway gates at Magat Dam has exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread flooding in several areas of Cagayan and Isabela provinces.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned of widespread flooding, landslides, and huge waves in the region. The Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has ordered local government units to conduct preemptive and forced evacuations in flood-prone areas.
Residents in various municipalities and cities, including Tuguegarao City, Ilagan City, and several towns in Cagayan and Isabela, have been affected by the flooding.