Torrential rains flood Bukidnon, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan

Flashfloods hit some areas in Bukidnon, Oriental Mindoro and Aklan since Thursday night, displacing hundreds of families and damaging pieces of property and livelihood products, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Friday. In Bukidnon, a series of flashfloods that struck parts of the province on Thursday night damaged houses as well as farm and animals products worth P2 million. In its situation report released Friday, the NDCC said that affected areas included five villages in Malaybalay and Valencia cities, as well as in Lantapan town. The report added that as many as 356 families or 1,760 people living in the villages were affected by flashfloods. Radio reports said that in Malaybalay City, residents from Aglayan and Bangcud villages were about to go to bed around 8 p.m. Thursday when they were startled by the roar of rushing water going toward them. The radio report added that houses made of light materials like bamboo were swept away by strong current filled with mud and debris. The NDCC report listed four damaged houses in Malaybalay and six in Lantapan. No casualty or injury was reported. Village officials and residents said they are puzzled what caused the flashflood, claiming their area has never been visited by heavy rains. In Oriental Mindoro, five villages in Naujan town were flooded after the swollen Magasawang River overflowed due to intermittent rains. The flooded villages include Tagumpay, Mahabang Parang, Inarawan, San Nicolas and San Luis villages. Despite affecting a total of 2,982 families from the town's 11 villages, two-thirds of the total number refused to evacuate their homes because they said the flooding was not massive. The local disaster unit in Naujan has already rationed sacks of relief goods to residents of San Andres village and evacuated at least seven persons, two of whom are infants. Torrential rains in western Aklan province triggered floods in 17 villages in the towns of Ibajay, Malay, Tangalan, Numancia and Kalibo. The flooding washed away one house even as no casualties were reported. The same NDCC report said that the provincial disaster coordinating unit in Aklan is assessing the damage and needs of flood-hit towns. - GMANews.TV