Flood displaces more than 300 families in 3 Cotabato villages

KIDAPAWAN CITY –– Continuous heavy rains on Tuesday evening flooded at least three villages of Kabacan town in Cotabato province Wednesday, affecting more than 300 families and suspending classes in one elementary school.

Don David Saure, Kabacan’s Disaster Risk Reduction, and Management Officer said the heavy downpour resulted in Kabacan and Pulangi rivers overflowing, flooding low-lying communities.

In Barangay Poblacion, the knee-deep flood at the Kabacan Pilot Elementary School prompted Kabacan Mayor Herlo Guzman to suspend classes for Wednesday.

Saure said the flood damaged school books and reading materials.

Major streets in Barangay Poblacion were also flooded.

In Barangay Cuyapon, Saure said at least 300 families were affected when floodwaters entered their homes last night.

Some of these families spent the night at the village covered court for safety.

An estimated 50 hectares of newly planted rice fields in the village were also washed out by the flood.

In Upper Paatan, a low-lying village, the flash flood also devastated crops.

Saure said damage assessment was ongoing.

Guzman has also ordered the distribution of relief packs to affected families./lzb