Flood displaces 10,000 in Mamasapano

SUBMERGED An Islamic school of Ma’had Pimbalakan Assar ie Al Islamie Inc. in Barangay Pimbalakan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur, is submerged in water
in the afternoon of Thursday. The flood came after days of rain that started on Tuesday. —MA’HAD PIMBALAKAN ASSAR IE AL ISLAMIE INC.

COTABATO CITY—At least 10,000 individuals from 2,000 families in eight villages of Mamasapano town in Maguindanao del Sur have been affected by widespread flooding caused by heavy downpour that occurred since Tuesday.

Vincent Cuales, the head for Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Mamasapano, told the Inquirer on Thursday that most of those affected families opted to stay home, with only 10 percent of them had so far evacuated to safer grounds.

“Most of the affected families did not leave home but others who took refuge in evacuation centers can go back to their respective homes once flood waters subside,” Cuales said.

He said the continuous downpour in the area since Tuesday led to the swelling of South Cotabato’s Allah River, which overflowed to nearby towns in the adjoining Maguindanao del Sur, including the Mamasapano villages of Tuka, Libutan, Dabenayan, Bagumbong, Liab, Pidsandawan, Pimbalakan and Sapakan.

Cuales also said an estimated 80 hectares of rice fields, cornfields and vegetable gardens in the town were also affected and that most of the crops had been damaged due to prolonged exposure to water.

The extent of the damage was still being determined, as the MDRRMO was still continuing its assessment and monitoring of affected barangays, said Cuales.

Cuales urged town residents, especially those living near riverbanks and marshlands, to remain vigilant and alert as floods continue to affect their localities.