Floods hit northern Cebu town

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A motorist was rescued on Saturday morning after his car was swept away by a flashflood in the coastal town of Daanbantayan on the northern tip of the island of Cebu, about 131 kilometers north of here.

At least 20 families evacuated to higher ground after the floodwaters rose above knee level in the town center and the villages of Malingin, Talisay, Maya, Tapilon, and Agujo.

Flaviano Moralde Jr., 60, was found holding on to mangrove branches by policemen and volunteer rescuers some two hours after onrushing water  from a swollen river swept his car away as he was parking it near a bus terminal about 5 a.m. Saturday, Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr. said.

Arrabis said Moralde was taken to the Daanbantayan District Hospital but was discharged immediately.

Floods struck at least seven villages in Daanbantayan about 5 a.m. on Saturday when a river nearby burst its banks following heavy rain during the night.

Moralde, who had come from his house in Barangay Tominhao, was driving his Mitsubishi Spacewagon to the terminal where he was to take a bus to  Cebu City.

He was about to park his car at the public market, beside the terminal, when his vehicle was swept by a flashflood from the river, said  Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro.

Corro said Moralde managed to get out of his car, which has not been found, and was swept away but he managed to grab the branch  of a mangrove tree at the edge of the river and stayed there until rescue came two hours later.