1 dead, 2 boys missing as flashflood sweeps away riverside shanties in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A elderly woman drowned and at least two children were reported missing after a flashflood generated by heavy rains brought on by Tropical Storm Offel swept away shanties on the banks of the Bacung River North Cotabato, while at least 1,200 families in Zamboanga Sibugay fled to safer ground in the face of five-foot-deep floods, the authorities said Friday.

Senior Inspector Ronnie Cordero, police chief of the town of Tulunan, north Cotabato, told the Inquirer in a telephone interview that based on witness accounts, Delia Casel, 70, was alone in her riverside shanty  in Sitio Sambulawan when the water started to rise Thursday. He said the woman tried to get out of her house but was not strong enough to withstand the suddenly strong currents.

“She was swept away,” Cordero said, adding the woman’s body was recovered later a few meters downstream.

Cordero said two children, John Ray Barientos and Rey Garan, whose ages were not known, remained missing and a search for them was continuing on Friday.

At least 30 houses made of light materials were destroyed or damaged by the flood, he said.

In Zamboanga Sibugay, at least 1,200 families from several villages in the municipalities of Imelda and Buug fled to safer ground when floodwaters rose to about five feet due to heavy rains since Wednesday, said Maj. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, 1st Infantry Division commander.

Cruz said soldiers were immediately dispatched to help the local governments of the two towns in the evacuation of affected residents.

Cruz said nobody was reported injured in the floods.

“Roads and bridges remain passable,” he said.

In Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, a landslide was also reported on Thursday but no casualties were reported, Cruz said.

He said the Army provided vehicles to ferry affected families to safer areas.