At least six towns in Misamis Oriental have suspended their school classes as tropical cyclone “Crising” intensified into a tropical storm on Friday. The municipal governments of Lagonglong, Salay, Magsaysay, Binuangan, Sugbongcogon, and Talisayan, all in the province’s eastern side, issued orders to suspend classes just before schools opened Friday morning. Talisayan Mayor Ciriaco Talines explained that he made the decision due to gusty winds, continuous rains, and dark cloud formations, which posed significant risks to residents, especially school children. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) issued an advisory at 2 pm Friday, warning of heavy rainfall in Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani. Pagasa had earlier issued a yellow alert for Misamis Oriental, particularly the highland town of Claveria, at 8 pm Thursday. In Zamboanga City, M/V Gains Haner, a passenger ship, floundered along RT Lim Boulevard last Thursday, as reported by Shirley Nassal of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Floods, strong waves, and uprooted trees caused by “Crising” forced the evacuation of 220 families or 981 persons in 12 barangays in Zamboanga City, according to the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Additionally, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that Sultan Kudarat province evacuated over 1,000 families from the coastal town of Lebak on Thursday. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)
