Hundreds flee to higher ground as floods hit 3 Mindanao provinces

MANILA, Philippines—Nearly a hundred families were evacuated from their homes in Lanao del Norte province on Thursday after incessant rains flooded five villages and overflowed a river, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.

The 96 families, composed of 429 individuals, were taken to three evacuation centers in Kauswagan town after rains triggered by a low pressure area caused the Lapayan River to spill into the villages of Kawit Oriental, Lapayan, Tugar, Tacub and Libertad, the NDRRMC said.

Three houses were damaged in the town—one in Kawit Oriental and two in Tugar. The highway connecting Kauswagan to Bacolod City was also flooded and rendered impassable on Wednesday, but floodwaters receded later in the day at 7:30 p.m., the agency said.

In a report released by NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos, the agency said a total of 569 persons were displaced by floods, including 120 in Jabonga town in Agusan del Norte province after the water level in Lake Mainit rose.

The NDRRMC also said floods in three barangays in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Feb. 14 destroyed P156,700 in crops, livestock and infrastructure.

Lanao del Norte disaster response officials said they were assisting in the rescue efforts, evacuation and camp management in Kauswagan, while the provincial government was readying reinforcements.

A staff member of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s field office told the NDRRMC they had a standby fund of P306,749 and a stockpile of relief items, including more than 2,000 food packs and P2.9 million worth of nonfood items ready for distribution to affected families.