Motorists, commuters caught in downpour

Yesterday’s downpour that swept through Cebu and the rest of the country was caused by an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in the Visayas and a low pressure area in southeast Samar province.

Boy Artiaga, weather analyst of the Mactan office of the state weather bureau, Pagasa, said the twin weather conditions have intensified the southwest monsoon which will bring in more rains until next month.

He said their satellite findings showed that scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms will continue to prevail in Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Coastal waves will be slight to moderate and Artiaga said they have yet to issue an advisory on sea travel.

He said residents living in landslide and flood prone areas should evacuate to higher ground.

The downpour which broke out past noon flooded the streets of Cebu and Mandaue cities, causing traffic congestion and overflowing in rivers and creeks.

Two children were rescued by a joint team of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) from the second floor of their house after the water level rose in sitio Panagdait, barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Alvin Santillana of the  Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said they received reports that a creek overflowed in sition B-1 in Talamban.

He said barangay Mabolo, Salinas Drive in Lahug and Mahiga creek overflowed due to the downpour.

In Mandaue City, a 10 meter rip-rap was washed out by floodwaters along Mahiga Creek yesterday in sitio San Vicente, barangay Subangdaku.

The rip-rap is owned by a certain Franklin Olaer.

Three houses along Butuanon river in sitio Salvacion, barangay Maguikay owned by Edwin Alagasi, Miriam Urot and  Magdalina Velasco that were made of light materials were also washed out.

The three refused to relocate because they don’t have anywhere else to go. Seven out of 36 sites in Subangdaku were hit by floodwaters after the Mahiga Creek overflowed due to the downpour.

A national road in Subangdaku was cordoned after floodwaters rose to knee level.

The residents were advised by barangay officials to move to higher ground while others had to move up to the second floor of their houses to avoid the waters.

Subangdaku barangay captain Ernie Manatad said the residents were already oriented on how to deal with floods.

Heavy traffic was also experienced in P Remedio Street and A.S. Fortuna Streets in barangay Banilad, A. Abellana Street in barangay Canduman and along the national highway due to the floods.Reporters Candeze R. Mongaya and Jucell Marie P. Cuyos and Correspondents Carmel Loise Matus and Norman V. Mendoza