BUTUAN CITY (January 16) — More local governments suspended classes Friday as Tropical Storm Ada dumped heavy rains across Caraga, flooding key highways and stranding hundreds of passengers.
Classes were called off in Butuan and the Agusan del Norte towns of Tubay, Kitcharao, and Nasipit as rising waters cut road access and triggered landslides.
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. As of 5 a.m., Ada was 370 kilometers east of Surigao City, packing 65 kph winds and gusts up to 80 kph while moving north-northwest.
Roads cut, ports stalled
Sections of the Butuan–Surigao national highway were impassable to light vehicles in Tubay and Kitcharao due to flooding. Landslides were reported in four barangays across Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.
Sea travel suspensions stranded 823 passengers and 388 vehicles at Surigao Port and Lipata Port.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it distributed ready-to-eat food packs to affected travelers as weather conditions persist.
