2 missing in Davao del Norte floods

TAGUM CITY, Philippines—Two persons were reported missing after rivers, swollen by heavy rain dumped by Tropical Depression Zoraida, overflowed and flooded a number of communities in Davao del Norte province on Tuesday, officials said Wednesday.

Over 600 families had to be evacuated due to the flooding in various places in the province, the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said.

A 22-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters in the municipality of Dujali as he tried to retrieve lumber that had been set adrift and another man disappeared while trying to swim across a flooded area in the town of Kapalong, said Eric Rosillo, officer in charge of the provincial disaster office.

“The provincial disaster team has augmented search and retrieval operations…  in these towns,” Rosillo told the Inquirer by text message.

Romulo Tagalo, provincial information officer, said most of the more than 200 families who had evacuated in the municipalities of Dujali and Kapalong were returning to their homes Wednesday as the weather cleared.

Rosillo said the authorities were closely monitoring low-lying areas of Tagum City which were still under up to waist-deep floods.

Many provincial roads were also still not passable to light vehicles due to flooding, Rosillo said.

Cromwell Bonghanoy, Tagum City information officer, said on Facebook, that 10 villages—Pandapan, San Miguel, Busaon, Pagsabangan, Cuambogan, Apokon, Mankilam, Canocotan, Bincungan and Magdum—were still flooded and that 642 families were affected.

“At least 405 families are in evacuation centers, while the rest stayed in their homes since according to them, the water is not that high yet,” Bonghanoy said.

He said the city government has distributed relief packs to those still at evacuation centers.

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