Over 4,000 evacuate in Gingoog ahead of Basyang landfall

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Authorities evacuated thousands of residents in Gingoog City in eastern Misamis Oriental, as Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) spawned heavy rain and caused rivers to swell ahead of its landfall.

Gingoog Mayor Erick Cañosa said over 4,000 people had fled their homes as of noon, Thursday, February 5, after the local government placed the small Northern Mindanao city near Caraga region under red alert and ordered mandatory evacuations. 

Three rivers in the city have swelled, posing flooding risks to nearby communities, Cañosa said over Cagayan de Oro-based Magnum Radio.

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Tropical Storm Basyang expected to drench Caraga, Northern Mindanao

Bad weather forced the Gingoog city government to suspend work starting 10 am until further notice, except for frontline offices involved in disaster response, emergency operations, health, social services, and other essential services. 

Private establishments were also urged to adopt similar measures at their discretion to ensure employee safety.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Mayor Rolando Uy also ordered suspension of work in all local government offices starting noon on Thursday until Friday, February 6, citing the threats posed by Basyang. 

Uy said essential local government services will continue, while private sector work suspensions were left to the discretion of employers.

The state weather bureau has forecast Basyang would bring heavy to intense rain over parts of Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions.

As of 10 am, Basyang was located around 295 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. The storm has picked up speed, now moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour, faster than its previous pace of 20 kilometers per hour. – Rappler.com