By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro residents have reasons to be wary after the province of Bukidnon experienced an ‘abnormal flooding’ on Tuesday night, following heavy rains.
The heavy downpours in Bukidnon were also felt in Cagayan de Oro, whose rivers and tributary outlets serve as the basin of the upstream water activity, thus also causing waist-deep floods in the city particularly in the Cugman, J.R. Borja Extension, NHA, Kauswagan, and Bulua areas last night.
“Paingon na December diin atong mahinumdoman ang Sendong. Kon nagbaha ang Bukidnon nga above sea level na kaayo mabalaka gyod kita sa Cagayan de Oro nga nia ra sa ubos. Busa mangandam dili na gyod kita magkumpyansa,” one worried mother, Lesly Nuñeza, told Gold Star Daily.
With the sudden increase of water level at the Pulangi River, some parts of the landlocked province were seriously threatened by water surges.
Over at Sitio Jarque, Adtuyon, Pangantucan, Bukidnon, all shanties by the riverside were completely wiped out, leaving several residents homeless and begging for help as they were also rendered out of their personal belongings.
“Hurot-hurot wala gyod silay naluwas nga mga gamit sa panimalay. Unta matabangan sa labing madaling panahon,” was the appeal of the youthful disaster volunteer Junifer Molo Arañez Aniñon, who took photos and videos of the horrifying incident.
That night, the Kampo Uno (Camp One) bridge in Maramag town ― linking to Don Carlos and other municipalities ― was also left impassable as waters overflowed its small stream, damaging properties in nearby residential houses.
“Nanglutaw ang mga appliances ug uban pa, perwisyo gyod sa mga apektado,” said one Lester Dimatulac, who also shared his photos to create awareness and to attract help for the heavily-affected individuals.
As families in lower areas evacuate to safer ground as floodwaters also swept shanties away and triggered heavy traffics in Cagayan de Oro, city hall spokesperson Maricel Casiño-Rivera said what had happened was unexpected as the weather was relatively fair throughout the day.
“Epekto na kini basta mokusog ang ulan sa Bukidnon kay sa ato pud nga mga suba mosubay ang direksyon sa dakong tubig. Magpabilin kita nga mabinantayon kanunay,” Casiño told the local press.
