Floods force 50 families to leave homes

THE more than 50 families, who sought shelter in the municipal gym after floodwaters rose in five barangays in Siaton town, Negros Oriental on Monday, have returned to their homes yesterday.

The heavy rains on Monday caused Siaton River and the Canaway River to overflow and cause floodwaters to rise waist-high in the barangays San Jose, Datag, Giliga-on and Bonawon.

“We were scared for our children, so when the disaster team came and helped us to get out from our homes we immediately accepted their help,” said Arlene Namuco, who with her five children stayed overnight at the evacuation center.

Johnny Kitare, operations officer of the Siaton Disaster Operations Center, said they had difficulty in rescuing the residents because the water was deep and the current was strong.

He said rescuers had to use a rope to make sure that the residents wouldn’t get carried away by the floodwaters.

The floodwaters also destroyed three houses in Sta. Catalina town in Negros Oriental./Correspondent Carine M. Asutilla