The local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) raised Alert Level 1, activating its monitoring system on Monday, in anticipation of the possible effects of Typhoon Depression “Samuel”.
City Chief Information Officer Jefry Tupas said the city’s Response Cluster Representatives are already on standby for the weather disturbance that “Samuel” may pose to the eastern parts of Mindanao.
On Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that TD Samuel has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
PAGASA said the trough of TD Samuel will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Caraga Region and Davao Oriental. It said that as of At 4 a.m Monday, the center of TD Samuel was last seen at 660 k.m. east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
TD Samuel has maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 65 kph, heading west-southwest at 25 kph. PAGASA warned that heavy rains brought by Samuel could cause the swelling of rivers.
In the advisory released by the city’s DRRMO, it said the swelling of the Davao River could affect downstream communities of Tamugan riverside, Tigatto, Jade Valley, Barangay 19, Sangilangan Maa, GEM Village, portions of San Rafael, and Bankerohan Riverside.
The city government is also monitoring the Bunawan River, which could affect Bunawan proper. Two areas in Bunawan were recently flooded due to heavy rains in the Paquibato District.
Tupas said these communities have been alerted by the Disaster teams for possible flooding. (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)
