Rains, floods bring woes to Visayas, Mindanao areas

MANILA, Philippines—Hundreds of families have been displaced by floods brought by heavy rains in parts of Visayas and Mindanao as Luzon continued to fry in record dry season heat.

In Negros Occidental, residents had to be evacuated as floods rose to neck-deep in some parts of EB Magalona town and Victorias City.

Authorities in the province said high tide worsened the flooding. EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson said at least 18,000 people in his town had to be moved out of their homes.

The rains and high tide brought floods to several villages of Victorias City although provincial officials have yet to report figures.

In Sarangani, authorities said at least 300 families have been displaced by what were described to be rampaging floods in two of seven villages in the town of Glan.

Evacuees were brought to the town gym, according to Mayor Victor James Yap.

The mayor said heavy rains have been pounding the town the last two days, causing the town river to overflow.

He said floods were waist-deep in at least two villages although the flood level subsided yesterday.

Some residents had to be evacuated in speed boats and jet skis, the mayor said.

No casualty was reported, but the mayor expressed concern over what the floods’ effects would be on crops.

“We have yet to determine the extent of the damage,” he said.

Officials had issued flood and landslide alerts as early as Wednesday due to heavy rains brought by bad weather in parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas and Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao