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PATIN-AY, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/ 27 January) — A total of 868 families or 1,913 individuals had evacuated from Sta. Josefa and Veruela towns in Agusan del Sur as of Sunday morning due to floods brought by the tail end of a cold front.
The displaced families sought refuge in different evacuation centers, Armando Gomez of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said.
Gomez said a landslide had rendered the Veruela-Laak national highway in Barangay Sisimon, Veruela impassable by light and heavy vehicles.
He said a water search and rescue team from the Search and Rescue Agusan del Sur went to Veruela to assist the municipal DRRMO in evacuating the affected residents.
Floods also hit Bunawan town and some barangays of Trento town.
Agusan del Sur serves as a catch basin whenever heavy rains occur in neighboring Compostela Valley province.
In an advisory issued at 11am Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the tail end of a cold front will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains in Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
Pagasa warned the rains may cause flooding and landslides.
It added the rest of Caraga and Davao regions will experience cloudy skies with scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains. (Richard G. Grande/for MindaNews)