CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — At least one person died and two toddlers were missing after a flash flood swept through some towns in Lanao del Sur on Tuesday night due to heavy rains.
Jennie Tamano, Lanao del Sur provincial information officer, said that a 14-year-old boy from Barangay Kabaniakawan, Kapatagan, was killed in the flash flood. Tamano also identified the missing as Norshalla Malumpil, 3, and Abdul Major Malumpil, 2, from Balabagan town.
READ: Pagasa: Rainy Monday likely in parts of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao
“A search, rescue, and retrieval operation is ongoing in Barangay Igabay for the two missing persons in Balabagan,” Tamano added.
The flooded towns are Malabang, Balabagan, Kapatagan, and Marogong.
Tamanao said that in Malabang, 23 barangays were affected, 10 in Balabagan, 7 in Kapatagan, and 5 in Marogong or 45 barangays in all.
“A total of 3,199 households were affected by the flash floods,” Tamano said.
“The Provincial Engineering Office is conducting road-clearing operations along Narciso Ramos Highway, between Malabang to Kapatagan towns,” Tamano added.
Tamano added that heavy equipment from the Provincial Engineer’s Office were sent to the affected areas for debris and road-clearing operations.
“Rescuers and responders of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office have been deployed since last night to assist in the search, rescue, and retrieval operation in Balabagan and perform an initial assessment of damages and needs,” Tamano added.