4 dead, 19,000 displaced by floods in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Four persons died in floods spawned by days of rain in North Cotabato province, officials said on Saturday.

In Mlang town, Constantino Dizaon, Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council officer, said the bodies of siblings Shelron Jave, 5, and Roniel Jeff Brania were found floating in a ditch on Thursday morning.

Diazon said the two minors were swept away by rampaging floodwaters. They were last seen trying to cross the ditch on their way home from watching an afternoon cartoon TV show at a neighbor’s house on Wednesday.

“We were restive and searched for them. Now I know why they failed to come home,” said Sheila Brania, the mother of the two children.

In Makilala town, residents of Barangay (village) Luna Norte found the body of another villager, identified as Wilson Abensay, 53, in the river there. Abensay, a motorcycle driver, reportedly tried to cross the swollen river on Friday but his efforts were no match for the raging waters.

In President Roxas town, the body of another man was found floating in the town’s portion of Kabacan River.

President Roxas officials said the drowning victim was believed to have come from Magpet town.

In Kabacan town, officials said they had warned residents living near bodies of water to be vigilant.

At least 19,000 individuals were affected due to floods that have swamped eight villages, according to Dan Saure, Kabacan disaster risk reduction official. Hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands were also flooded, he said. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao