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40,000 evacuated in Davao City after river overflows due to heavy rains


Floods in the Davao Region—such as here in Jade Valley, Davao City—have worsened as rains continue to fall and rivers overflow their banks. Photo from MinLand Foundation's Facebook page.
 
Some 40,000 residents were forced to flee their homes in Davao City after the river in the area overflowed due to heavy rains. Panul Galdon, head of the Davao City Risk Reduction and Management Council, said 12 barangays near the Davao River were inundated after moderate to heavy rainfall poured over these areas from last night until Sunday morning. “Malakas talaga ‘yung ulan sa Davao City especially sa highlands. Nag-trigger ito ng flashfloods dahil nag-overflow na ‘yung river. Nag-cause na rin ng flooding sa mas mababaw na areas,” Galdon said in a phone interview on Sunday evening. He added that no casualties or missing persons were recorded in the area since Saturday night. “Flood-prone talaga ‘yung areas na ito kasi very near the river. Kaya last night pa lang, nagkaroon na ng preemptive evacuation,” he said. Galdon likewise said that floods have already begun to subside after the weather improved on Sunday afternoon. According to PAGASA's 5 p.m. weather bulletin released at 5 p.m. Sunday, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may continue in Metro Davao until Thursday due to the tail-end of a cold front. Netizens’ response Some online users, meanwhile, used the social networking site Twitter to report the extent of the flooding in Davao City and other parts of Mindanao. Netizens even tweeted pictures of areas submerged in floods, and asked for prayers for residents affected by the deluge. Evacuation Maria Luisa Bermudo of the Davao City Social Services and Development Office meanwhile said that around 8,500 families are currently in various evacuation centers around the city due to the flashfloods. She added that the Davao City government has already allocated resources to respond to the needs of the evacuees. “The city continues to provide assistance to the evacuees. So far, the city government is able to provide the needs of the evacuees, with the help of some non-government groups,” she said in a separate phone interview. Bermuda also discouraged affected families from returning to their homes until the floods have fully subsided. “Medyo bumababa na ‘yung tubig sa ngayon pero marami pa ring families sa evacuation centers. Of course, we want to be sure that they are safe before they are allowed to go back to their homes,” she said. — BM, GMA News
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