Floods overrun Davao Sur highway
Cause 2-hour traffic jam
By Eldie Aguirre
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 17:47:00 11/23/2008
Filed Under: Flood, Road Transport, Weather
DIGOS CITY, Philippines--Hundreds of motorists en route to Davao City and General Santos City waited for hours along the national highway in Sulop town in Davao del Sur as floodwaters overflowed onto the road following heavy rains Saturday.
Boyet Hernan, Sulop's Association of Barangay Council president, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone on Sunday that heavy rains started late afternoon, swelling a creek and canals along the highway.
The flood caused a more than two hours of traffic on Saturday night.
"There was no casualty or damage to properties reported, but we were forced to stop the motorists to prevent any untoward incident," Hernan said.
Hernan said the floodwaters covered more than two kilometers of the highway, making it impassable to traffic.
The heavy downpour was due to the inter-tropical convergence zone that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported would affect Mindanao this week.
On Thursday, at least seven villages of Malita town were hit by flashfloods following a heavy rain.
Knee-deep water damaged several properties in the town center.
The municipal disaster coordinating council (MDCC) placed the damage to crops and properties at P20 million.
Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas ordered the provincial social welfare and development office to attend to the needs of the more than 300 evacuees at the Malita gymnasium.
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