-
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/26 July) — Torrential rains since Friday triggered landslides and flooding closing the Cagayan de Oro-Butuan highway for several hours and causing a major traffic jam that stretched for several kilometers, the Misamis Oriental provincial disaster management office said Saturday morning.
Edmundo Pacamalan, head of the Misamis Oriental Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said the highway was reopened at 5am on Saturday after a landslide cut off a portion of the road in Barangay Hermano, Balingasag town Friday night.
“We sent in our earth moving equipment and was able to clear the highway when daylight came,” Pacamalan said.
The official said portions of the highway remained flooded with ankle-deep waters after rocks and dirt blocked the canal vents in Hermano.
Meanwhile, floodwaters also rose above the banks of San Isidro Solana River damaging 50 percent of the Spring View Resort in nearby Jasaan town.
Pacamalan said the flood swept a multi-cab owned by the resort across the highway and caused considerable damage to the resort.
He said at least 20 families in Balingasag and Jasaan towns were affected by the torrential rains.
“It dumped 25 inches of rain in two hours. It was higher than what was forecasted,” he said.
He added his office was sending bulldozers and other heavy equipment to clear the road between Jasaan and Claveria towns which was also blocked by a landslide. (Froilan Gallardo/MIndaNews)