Flashfloods hit Lanao del Norte towns

ILIGAN CITY –– Continuous heavy rains triggered a flash flood that inundated two towns of Lanao del Norte early morning Tuesday, July 16, forcing scores of families to evacuate to safer grounds.

Roy Secuya, operations officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the floodwaters affected the low-lying towns of Lala and Kapatagan.

Secuya said the Maranding river overflowed, flooding the residential houses in the Kapatagan poblacion.

The floodwaters then drained towards the rice-producing Pinuyak village, inundating its farms and houses.

Secuya said affected residents evacuated to the Kapatagan gymnasium and the barangay halls of nearby villages that were spared by the floods.

The heavy rains also flooded some portions of the town center of Tubod.

The PDRRMO and the towns’ Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices have been mobilized to facilitate the evacuation, Secuya said.

No casualties have been reported, so far.