2 dead in Sarangani flash floods

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — Heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon (habagat) triggered flash floods that killed two persons in Kiamba, Sarangani province, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-12 (RDRRMC-12) said late Sunday afternoon.

This brings to three the deaths in Mindanao due to habagat-enhanced rains.

The RDRRMC-12, chaired by the Office of Civil Defense-12 (OCD-12), reported that one person is still missing also in Kiamba town as the region remains under a red alert status due to the southwest monsoon

Overflowing rivers and creeks were blamed for the casualties.

READ: Sarangani town orders forced evacuation on riverbank dwellers

The report said that floods struck 106 villages across Soccsksargen region, which comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.

READ: Habagat bringing rains to parts of Visayas, Mindanao till Thursday

At least 19,423 families or 92,851 individuals were affected by flooding in the region, it said.

 Close to 2,000 families or 8,699 individuals had sought refuge at 30 evacuation centers in the affected areas.

Last Friday, an individual was confirmed dead in Davao City due to heavy rains that spawned flash floods in the locality. /cb