Several areas in Davao City experienced severe flooding that almost reached the rooftops of houses following heavy rains evening on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Video footage showed two children clinging to a tree when they were rescued by personnel from the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) in Barangay Tugbok Proper.
CGDSEM said the children’s house was carried away by the floodwaters, causing them to be separated from their father.
They clung to the tree for nearly three hours before they were rescued. Their father was rescued later.
Rescuers used ropes to reach and guide individuals who were trapped in chest-deep floodwaters. They evacuated residents after floodwaters entered their homes.
Commuters and motorists were stranded due to the strong current of floodwaters on the roads in the barangay.
In Ulas, Barangay Talomo Proper, resident Gail Padillo captured on video floodwaters rising to nearly the rooftops of houses.
Residents affected called for rescue after they were forced to climb onto their rooftops with several children.
Padillo said it was the worst flooding they had experienced since 2019.
She said it had not even rained in their area, which was why residents were surprised why water in the river nearby rose suddenly.
Residents affected chose not to evacuate and, instead, waited for floodwaters to subside.
Traffic also became heavier as vehicles got stalled when floodwaters from the river spilled onto the highway.
Rescue operations were also in full swing in Taal, Bangkal, where rescuers used boats to reach residents stranded in their homes after getting trapped by high floodwaters.
Another footage captured by MJ Bacalso showed floodwaters surging through Bangkal, Davao City, almost reaching the roof of houses and forcing some residents to climb onto their roof for safety.
The residents rescued were brought to the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Gym, which serves as an evacuation center.
WATER FROM UPLAND BARANGAYS
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), although Barangay Talomo Proper did not experience heavy rains, intense rain in the upland barangays caused water in the rivers to rise rapidly and overflow into the area.
Barangay Talomo Proper is one of the city’s low-lying communities, making it vulnerable to flooding.
As the floodwaters subsided, thick mud and soaked belongings were left behind in areas affected.
The residents affected have started sweeping and cleaning up. Some of them have no adequate water supply because several pipes were damaged.
As a result, some residents were forced to fetch water from a river nearby for cleaning purposes.
A pickup truck was carried away by floodwaters and crashed into a tree.
“Naapil ni siya sa pagkaanod sa balay… naanod ang duha ka balay, napagan ni siya,” the man who was tasked to fix the vehicle said.
BUSINESSES AFFECTED
Several business owners also suffered significant losses. Sacks of animal feeds and rice from a store will have to be thrown away after getting soaked in floodwaters.
The damage was estimated at around P500,000 after floodwaters entered their warehouse.
“Totally damaged gyud,” the store owner’s uncle said.
In Purok 4B, Barangay Los Amigos, Tugbok District, fishponds were also affected by the flooding.
Some residents are fishing along the dike, hoping to catch hito that may have been swept away by the floodwaters.
Out of the 21 fishponds in the area, eight were washed out, including the fingerlings therein.
The Davao Central 911 and the CDRRMO are working together on clearing operations in communities affected by the flood.
(With reports from Rgil Relator, Sarah Hilomen-Velasco, and Jandi Esteban)
