At least 20 killed as ‘Sendong’ lashes Cagayan de Oro — rescuers

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — At least 20 people were killed by floods as “Sendong” lashed this city Friday night.

As of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, rescuers composed of volunteers, policemen and soldiers recovered the bodies, including that of a family of five.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer was at the scene during the retrieval of some of the dead bodies in Barangay (village) Tambo here.

Authorities said floodwaters in villages along the Cagayan de Oro River reached “meters high” and that high tide worsened the situation.

The water started rising 10 p.m. and reached its height around 2 a.m., officials initially said.