Gingoog City — The Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on Thursday reported heavy flooding in eastern towns due to continuous rains since Wednesday, prompting evacuations in coastal barangays to avoid storm surges that regularly affect these areas.

Faustino Dy Jr., PDRRMO head, has alerted the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (MDRRMOs) in the eastern part of the province to implement emergency response protocols to ensure zero casualties in their respective localities.

Storm surge warnings for the towns of Jasaan, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Balingasag, Balingoan, Libertad, and Magsaysay have resulted in no deaths or injuries in the western part of the province.

In September last year, strong waves battered coastal towns, prompting residents to evacuate to designated evacuation centers.

“Hundreds of residents were evacuated, but no casualties were reported,” Dy said.

In Balingoan, all ferry boats bound for Camiguin province were grounded due to the inclement weather.

The regional weather bureau reported that the strong waves were enhanced by the southwest monsoon affecting the province and other parts of the country.

In Jasaan, at least six coastal barangays were evacuated. Early warnings allowed fishermen to secure their boats from the strong waves and winds that battered their communities.

In Villanueva, the barangays of Look and Poblacion were also affected by floodwaters, with seawater reaching the town plaza.