Negros, N. Cotabato folk flee floodwaters

Army troopers were called out and helicopters dispatched on Sunday to rescue residents trapped on rooftops after torrential rains triggered unprecedented flash floods in parts of Negros and Mindanao.

One of the worst hit was Bayawan City in Negros Oriental where the overflowing Bayawan River raised floodwaters to more than the average person’s height, forcing thousands to flee their homes, rescuers said.

Reports from Dumaguete City said at least 4,000 persons were forced to abandon their homes in Bayawan and three towns in Negros Oriental’s third district.

Also affected by floods were the towns of Sta. Catalina, Basay and Siaton, said Allen Froilan Cabaron, Office of Civil Defense Negros Oriental coordinator.

Troops from the Philippine Army had to take rubber boats from the Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) Bayawan campus in Barangay (village) Carranoche, some five kilometers from the city proper, as the floodwaters made streets impassable by vehicles.

Two Army helicopters were dispatched from Cebu to assist in rescue operations.

Cabaron said rains had been pounding the towns since Friday. Badly affected were nine barangays in Bayawan—Banga, Poblacion, Maninihon, Villareal, Tuba, Ubos, Pagatban, Kalumboyan and Nangka.

Evacuees stayed in the city gym (500), an elementary school in Pagatban (50), the Bayawan National High School (2,523), Norsu (350), the Integrated Business Center (1,000) and an elementary school in Maninihon (20). Cabaron said the number was expected to rise since some residents were trapped on the roofs of their homes.

In southern Negros Occidental, more than 1,000 persons in three cities and four towns had to flee their homes.

Badly affected in Negros Occidental were the cities of Sipalay, Kabankalan and Himamaylan, and the towns of Don Salvador Benedicto, Hinobaan, Isabela and Ilog, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Office.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Gracia said the total number of evacuees reached 1,010.

According to Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Negros Occidental, 6th dist.), some residents of Ilog town who had initially refused to leave their homes were picked up by speedboats because the Ilog-Hilabangan River was rising.

Reports from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, said hundreds of commuters were stranded for at least five hours when the national highway was submerged in floodwaters Sunday morning.

Senior Insp. Donald Cabigas, the town’s chief of police, said the Manuangan River overflowed and floodwaters rushed to the national highway, leaving light vehicles and passengers stranded.

“The floodwaters were too strong, only huge vehicles could pass on the highway,” Cabigas said.

Residents in low-lying villages fled their homes, seeking refuge in relatives’ homes and village halls.

Cabigas said no one was reported hurt in the flash flood, which started to subside before noon Sunday.

Heavy rains were also experienced in the towns of Mlang, Tulunan, Matalam and Kidapawan City in the past two days.

The weather bureau said the moderate to heavy rains in Mindanao were caused by the intertropical convergence zone hovering over Mindanao and parts of the Visayas.—With reports from Carla P. Gomez and Carmel Matus, Inquirer Visayas; Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao