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At least 12 dead, hundreds of families evacuated as floods hit Davao Region


(Updated 7:55 p.m.) Hundreds of families in Davao Region have fled their homes and at least 12 people have died as floods from continuous, heavy rain since Friday hit Southern Mindanao, rising neck-deep and even higher in low-lying areas.

Rain brought on by a low-pressure area (LPA) in Mindanao caused rivers in the region to swell, according to a report on "Balitanghali" on Sunday.

Pablo-hit areas

In an interview with reporters on Sunday, Compostela Valley Police Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan said that three people in the province have died and three others are missing. At least eight people have been injured.

The "Balitanghali" report noted that in Compostela Valley, the waters reached roof-level in some areas. More than 700 families in the province have been evacuated, said Cascolan.

According to "Balitanghali", affected local governments started preemptive evacuations as the water level began to rise in Manat River on Friday. The river traverses Nabunturan, Montevista, Monkayo and New Bataan towns in Compostela Valley.

A report from the Davao Oriental Provincial Police District, meanwhile, disclosed that nine people in the province have died, while four others have been injured. More than 8,500 families in the province have been affected, it added.

In Davao del Norte, 256 families were evacuated to safer ground, according to a report on Davao Today.

Davao Region is still recovering from the damage caused by Typhoon Pablo in late 2012. Rehabilitation has been ongoing, with the government vowing to build 27,000 homes for Pablo victims. Another 4,000 homes have either been built or repaired in Compostela Valley and Negros Oriental by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines.

Landslides, flash floods

Seven landslides have been reported, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its 6 p.m. update Sunday:
  • Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte
  • Sitio A1 Purok 6, El Salvador, New Corella, Davao del Norte
  • KM 6, Brgy, Pandapan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte
  • Sitio Camansi, Brgy. Maglahus, Cateel, Davao Oriental
  • Brgy. Sumili, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
  • Brgy. Nuncia, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur
  • Brgy. Poblacion, San Jose, Dinagat Islands
Flash floods were also reported in five areas:
  • Brgys. Poblacion and Baylao, Mambajao, Camiguin
  • municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong and New Corella, Davao del Norte
  • five municipalities in Compostela Valley
  • municipalities of Veruela and Rosario, Agusan del Sur
  • Tubod, Surigao del Norte
In Davao Oriental, according to the police report, flash floods also affected the capital, Mati, and the towns of Boston, Cateel, Baganga, Tarragona, Lupon, and Banaybanay.

Landslides also occurred in some parts of Mati and the towns of Boston, Caraga and Tarragona.

Damage to infrastructure such as Lumao Bridge in Cateel, Manorigao Bridge and San Jose Bridge in Caraga, Quinonoan Bridge in Manay, and Chicote Bridge in Gov. Generoso town have also been reported.

More rain

The NDRRMC said that the LPA is estimated at 190 kilometers east of General Santos City and is expected to bring cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao—particularly CARAGA and Compostela Valley—and Visayas, including Leyte, Samar, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, Cebu and Bohol.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz on Sunday said the LPA off General Santos City would continue to bring rain over Mindanao, Visayas and Southern Luzon until Tuesday.

“Nananatiling mababa ang tsansya nitong maging isang bagyo sa susunod na 12 oras, pero hindi pa rin inaalis ang posibilidad na lumakas at maging isang ganap na bagyo,” he said in a separate report on "Balitanghali."

He said the Japan Meteorological Agency has already tagged the weather disturbance as tropical depression.
 
“Base sa wind map ng [GMA] Weather Central, ngayong hapon, posible nitong daanan ang kalupaan ng Mindanao at sa susunod na araw, Lunes hanggang Martes ay maaari nitong tahakin ang Visayas at Southern Luzon at tatama ito sa Bicol Region at Miyerkules maaari itong lumiko patungo ng Philippine Sea,” he said.
 
“Ang isang medyo nakakabahala ay imbes [umalis na sa bansa]… mukhang mananatili ito… sa may Visayas. Kaya asahan na rin ang mga patuloy na pag-ulan diyan sa Visayas lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Yolanda,” he added.

As of this posting, six flights were canceled due to bad weather, according to a Twitter post by the Department of Transportation and Communication on Sunday.


— LBG/BM, GMA News
Tags: flood, davaoflood
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