More than 20 families were evacuated to temporary shelters in Barangays Maguikay and Paknaan after heavy rains from Typhoon Basyang increased flooding risks in low-lying areas near the Butuanon River.
The City Social Welfare and Services Office (CSWSO) reported that at least 15 families, or 54 individuals, from Barangay Maguikay are temporarily staying at Maguikay Elementary School.
Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Command Center recorded eight families, or 30 individuals, from Barangay Paknaan taking shelter at Paknaan Elementary School.
Mandaue City was placed under a red rainfall warning on Friday, February 6, with accumulated rainfall reaching around 200 millimeters.
In an interview, CDRRMO Communications Head Arnold Malig-on said live monitoring showed that the Butuanon River and other waterways in the city remained at normal levels.
“Nisaka gamay ang water level tungod sa pag-uwan pero wala man ni-overflow,” Malig-on said, noting that while water levels slightly rose, no rivers breached their banks.
He explained that as a precaution, residents living near creeks and rivers were preemptively evacuated early Thursday morning.
“Andam ang city. In place ang among preparations ug ready ra mi kung unsay angay respondihan,” Malig-on added. “Padayon ang monitoring hangtod ma-lift ang warning.”
In a separate interview, Maguikay resident Marjorie Fetiluna, 35, said her family evacuated around midnight on February 6 as floodwaters threatened their area.
“Nakadisisyon mi nga mu-evacuate kay safety first,” Fetiluna said, recalling their experience during Typhoon Tino last November. She said the decision was influenced by the memory of her husband nearly drowning when floodwaters reached chin-deep levels on November 4.
Emotionally recounting their ordeal, Fetiluna said they did not want to take any chances this time, especially with children in the family.
“Dili lalim among naagian ato. Naa gyud ang trauma basta magbagyo,” she said. (VCL)
