Floods cut off highway linking Koronadal to GenSan

Flooded road after heavy rains (AP FILE PHOTO)

KORONADAL CITY — Local officials in Koronadal City shut down, on Wednesday, a major highway linking Koronadal and General Santos City due to flash floods spawned by moderate to heavy rains.

Cyrus Urbano, the Koronadal City administrator, said traffic flow along portions of the Koronadal-General Santos highway, particularly in Barangay Carpenter Hill, was closed at 4 p.m. after the flood water with mountain debris covered an 800-meter stretch of the road.

Motorists from General Santos coming to Koronadal City were advised to take a detour from Crossing Rubber in Tupi town, South Cotabato, to Tampakan town and then to Barangay San Roque in Koronadal City. This is about 20 kilometers more travel time for motorists.

Those from Koronadal City going to General Santos were advised to take the Barangay Barrio Dos to Tupi town route and then the Tampakan-General Santos route.

Urbano said three backhoes and graders were deployed to clear the highway of woods and debris as soon as the water subsides.

At least a dozen homes were submerged by flash floods last week when the road side drainage in Barangay Carpenter Hill also overflowed.  SFM