Flood, landslides from torrential rains kill 6 in Davao Oro

Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain killed six people across Mindanao, with one other person missing, rescuers said Thursday.

Rain began pounding wide areas of Mindanao last weekend, causing floods and landslides that officials said sent thousands fleeing to emergency shelters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said almost 100,000 residents were affected by flooding and landslides triggered by the trough of a low-pressure area in Davao (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13).

The hardest-hit areas were the mountainous municipality of Maragusan in Davao de Oro, which recorded 23 landslides since Sunday, and the adjacent town of New Bataan, where more than 10,000 people were evacuated from flooded homes.

The national disaster agency said more floods could develop in rivers in Lanao del Sur, where two towns would be affected, and Maguindanao, where eight municipalities were under threat.

“People living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned river systems and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils concerned are still advised to take necessary precautionary measures,” the state weather bureau said in a general flood advisory for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The trough of a low-pressure area could bring a “significant” amount of up to 100 millimeters of rain in the next 24 hours over BARMM and the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its weather advisory.

In this aerial photo provided by the Davao de Oro provincial government, soil erosion causes the concrete pavement to crack and erode part of the national highway at Km. 74, Purok 1B, in Barangay Sawangan, Mawab on Thursday morning.

Three people were killed and a fourth was missing in the Maragusan landslides, its municipal disaster officer Romeo Tublag said.

“Our town is surrounded by mountains, so landslides are an ever-present threat. It’s been raining almost daily here,” Tublag said.

In New Bataan, a landslide killed a man while a woman was swept away and killed by floodwaters. Another man was electrocuted outside his flooded house, disaster official Aeona Armocilla said.

Swollen rivers flooded three villages, forcing the evacuation of 10,100 residents, Armocilla said, adding that it was still raining in the area late Thursday.

Floods also hit the municipalities of Bunawan and Veruela in nearby Agusan del Sur province, with more than 5,000 people sheltering in evacuation centers, provincial disaster official Alexis Cabardo said.

A situation report from the NDRRMC on Friday said a total of 98,793 people (27,245 families) felt the impact of deep flooding and multiple landslides in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Davao City (Region 11); and in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur (Region 13).

The Public Information Officer (PIO) of Davao de Oro, said six people died in the province due to landslides and drowning: three each in New Bataan and Maragusan towns.

The NDRRMC has tallied 33 landslides in Region 11, including 26 in Davao de Oro. The other seven occurred in Davao Oriental.

“Another one was missing in Pantukan [Davao de Oro] specifically in Barangay Araibo,” Fe Maestre, the Davao de Oro PIO said in a radio interview over dzRH.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) District Southeastern Mindanao(CGDSEM) has evacuated over 1,300 residents in Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao City amid massive flooding in the region.

“As of press time, the PCG continues to monitor the status of rivers in Davao City,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said.

The PCG is also assisting in ongoing relief efforts in Caraga and Banay-Banay in Davao Oriental.

The regions of Davao and Caraga have been experiencing continuous rains since Jan. 29 due to the trough of a low-pressure area.

A total of 46,018 people were displaced by the bad weather, the NDRRMCsaid, and at least 19,000 were staying in evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said 45 roads and nine bridges in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Agusan del Sur were not passable due to flooding and landslides.

In Lupon, Davao Oriental, Barangays Maragatas, Tagugpo, Calapagan, and Poblacion lost power.

Barangays Basa and Pulang Lupa in Trento, Agusan del Sur were also without power.

Portions of Monkayo in Davao de Oro experienced water supply interruptions. Monkayo is still reeling from a devastating landslide two weeks ago that killed 11 people.

In Maragusan, Davao de Oro, a landslide damaged an intake box and trapped water hoses in Barangay New Albay, depriving residents ofpotable water. In the nearby Barangay Lahi, a creek overflowed which washed out the water source in the village.

The NDRRMC has yet to release the extent of damage to infrastructure in Davao and Caraga.

At least three houses were destroyed while four were partially damaged in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur (Region 13). At least 22 classrooms, and hand washing facilities were also destroyed in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.

In New Bataan, Davao de Oro (Region 11), a one-meter river dike in Brgy. Magsaysay collapsed after sustaining heavy damage due to severe flooding.

Data on the damage to agriculture is not readily available for both regions.

Lawmakers from the Davao region expressed their appreciation and gratitude to President Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for sending aid to victims of extreme flooding in Davao Oriental. Most recently, P150 million in cash aid and 51,000 food packs were endorsed for the Davao region.

Davao Oriental Reps. Nelson Dayanghirang and Cheeno Almario, Davao del

Norte Rep. Aldu Dujali, Davao de Oro Rep. Maricar Zamora, PBA Partylist Rep. Migs Nograles, and Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Oyo Uy thanked the President and Romualdez for sending aid to their respective constituents.

All the lawmakers’ districts were endorsed for P20 million cash assistance each while Uy’s office would get P10 million through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). With AFP

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.