The Surigao River swelled as “Basyang” poured water since Monday, causing floods in several low-lying villages such as portions of Barangay Luna, Washington, Rizal, Mat-i, Serna, Togbongon, and San Juan, according to city information officer Annette Villaces.
One of the vehicles submerged in mud in Alegria, Surigao del Norte as Typhoon “Basyang” bashes the Caraga Region Tuesday morning (13 February 2018). Photo courtesy of PONTIOUS GOGO
In Alegria town in Surigao del Norte, mud descended in the villages after a landslide.
Concerned Alegria resident Pontius Gogo shared to MindaNews his pictures of Barangay Alipao that was affected by the landslide.
He said several houses were almost buried by a swath of mud cascading down from the mountain.
“Small-scale mining has been operating in this barangay since the early 1980s,” Gogo said, adding that miners cut the trees for use in the tunnels without replanting.[]
“They are focused on getting the precious gold and neglecting the danger of destroying nature,” he lamented.[]
