Several persons missing as landslides, floods hit Davao Oriental towns

DAVAO CITY—Landslides and flash floods hit at least three towns in Davao Oriental early Tuesday following a heavy downpour overnight, authorities said.

Tarragona and Caraga towns were affected by landslides while most of Manay town was swamped by floodwaters after river channels burst their banks, according to Karen Deloso, provincial information officer, quoting a report from the provincial disaster risk reduction management council.

Photos by resident Pong Matuco Similatan showed several damaged vehicles stuck in the mud in the village of San Ignacio and a stump of an uprooted coconut tree found itself in the village center.

Many houses and business establishments were flooded.

“The rain started at 11 p.m. on Monday and slackened only around 4 a.m. today (Tuesday). By 3 a.m. floodwaters rose as high as to reach rooftops,” Similatan told the Inquirer.

He said three people were swept away by the floodwater and the body of one of them was already recovered.

Deloso, the provincial information officer, said disaster officials were still validating reports of casualties.

She said the provincial engineering office was now conducting clearing operations on main roads blocked by landslides as soldiers were sent to help in the rescue.

Classes up to high school in both public and private schools were suspended in Caraga town on Tuesday, Deloso said.

Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang dispatched relief goods to affected communities.

Authorities said the heavy downpour may have been caused by a localized thunderstorm and not directly related to Tropical Depression “Amang,” which had already moved away from Mindanao as of late Monday./lzb