Thousands displaced by floods in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Floods caused by Typhoon Mina displaced  2,448 families in five towns in Negros Occidental, according to reports received by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

The office identified the towns as Isabela, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Hinigaran and Ilog. Of the five, only Isabela has been declared under a state of calamity.

Isabela Mayor Francis Malabor said the floods destroyed agricultural crops in his municipality and affected 214 families in Barangays 5, Rumirang and Guintubdan.

Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno said they would declare their town under a state of calamity once the report on the devastation caused by the floods has been completed.

But based on initial report, the floods destroyed six houses and damaged nine others in Moises Padilla, displacing 67 families. A hanging bridge in Barangay 1 was also damaged.

Six barangays were flooded in Binalbagan – Bagroy, Marina, Canmuros, San Jose, San Teodoro and Progreso – affecting 1,390 families.

The social welfare office also reported that 489 families were displaced by floods in Barangays Vista Alegre, Calubang, Delicioso, Andulawan and 1 in the municipality of Ilog.

Nine barangays were flooded in Hinigaran,  affecting 288 families. These were Barangays Paticui, Pilar, Aranda, Palayog, Cambugsa, Bato, Tagda, Miranda and Barangay 3.