Floods in Visayas, Mindanao affect over 50,000—NDRRMC

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MANILA, Philippines – More than 50,000 people throughout 12 provinces in Visayas and Mindanao were affected by rains and flooding coming from a low pressure area (LPA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday morning.

A total of 53,455 persons or 10,592 families were affected in the provinces of Capiz, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Catanduanes, Cebu, Aklan, Leyte, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Compostela Province, Agusan del Sur, and Southern Leyte, the NDRRMC said.

The continuous rains brought by the LPA forced the evacuation of 17,330 persons to 53 evacuation centers, it said.

Six persons were killed, four from a ferry boat that capsized in Magat River due to the strong current last December 25 in Isabela and two from Barangay San Isidro, Tabogon, Cebu due to drowning, it said.

In Davao del Norte, the Saug/Lubunganon River and Ilog Creek overflowed causing floods in Kapalong and Asuncion that totally destroyed 15 houses in Barangay (village) Florida and Gupitan.

A banana packing plant, the Delta Banana Packing Plant in Kapalong, was destroyed by the flood along with agricultural lands where rice and bananas were planted.

The Polangi River in Bukidnon overflowed causing houses and agricultural crops to be washed out in the villages of Batangan, Kawayanon, Lumbo, Poblacion Kahaponan, San Isidro, Sinabuagan, Bagontaas, and Sugod of Valencia City.

More than 100 families were evacuated to Batangan court due to the flooding.

An estimated 400 houses were totally washed out in Barangay Magukay, Mandaue City, Cebu and 300 houses were partially damaged in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, Cebu.

Low-lying areas in the municipalities of Compostela, Montevista, New Bataan, Monkayo, Maco and Nabunturan in Compostela Valley were also flooded.

Landslides also occurred in Banga, Aklan, destroying five houses, and in the Luhan River, Barangay Salacafe, South Cotabato, which blocked the water and caused the water level to rise by five feet, creating a small lagoon.

Local authorities and search and rescue units have been mobilized from Regions 4-A (Calabarzon) 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 10 (Northern Mindanao), and Caraga, the report said.