Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate

Jan. 20, 2013

The continuous light to moderate rains yesterday caused the alarming rise of water levels in the city.   “It’s just too many water in the river,” said Emmanuel Jaldon, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and Central 911 in an afternoon press briefing, January 20.

By ACE R. MORANDANTE, JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA & MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – As early as 12 midnight, flood waters in Jade Valley subdivision here started to rise.  By 2 AM, the water already rose to about four feet.

“It was really unexpected.  We were not able to save anything; we had only our clothes on,” Maritess Ricalde, 39, a mother of three, told davaotoday.com.

Just before they vacated for safety, the water level already reached their house’s second floor while all the computer units of their small internet shop were seen floating in the water.

The continuous light to moderate rains yesterday caused the alarming rise of water levels in the city.   “It’s just too many water in the river,” said Emmanuel Jaldon, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and Central 911 in an afternoon press briefing, January 20.

In a text message to davaotoday.com, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said there are already 20 evacuation centers as of 12 noon.

According to Ma. Luisa Bermudo, chief of the City Social Services and Development office, as of 3 PM January 20, there were already 7,438 household evacuees with 29,193 dependents.  Flood waters ravaged Maa, Matina Gravahan and Bankerohan in the first district; and Bacaca and Tigatto where the Jade Valley subdivision is located, in the second district.

“Good thing my husband woke up last night and heard our neighbors’ frantic calls,” said Edelyn Garcia, 44, a mother of two.

It was already 3 AM.  They immediately evacuated for safety, leaving all their belongings, including their two pet dogs.  Their car was submerged in the waters along with the numerous other private and public utility vehicles.

“We were caught unprepared.  The water level rose so fast.  It always floods here but not this worse,” said pregnant Ivy Mickey Mako, 22, also a resident of Jade Valley.

Luckily, no one was hurt or missing from the Garcias and Ricaldes.  Both of their families have experienced the flooding in this village in 2002.  But they said, what they experienced today was worse as the water level rose to about 10 feet.  Meanwhile, Mako’s nieces and nephews were still about to be rescued when she was interviewed.

“When the river swelled, we secured the kids away from the house to my older brother’s house in Ma-a,” said Jun Amoguis, a resident in Bankerohan Bridge junction for the last 30 years.

He shared that the flood started at 11 PM, January 19.  But at 2 AM, the level of water in the Bankerohan River already rose.   “We took all our things from the house to the highway,” he said.

Worst flood

“This is one of the worst floods (in Davao City) in terms of magnitude or volume of water,” Central 911’s Jaldon said.

A total of 1,620 families and 6,981 individuals were rescued: Tigatto-Jade Valley, 499 families or 1,792 individuals; Sangilangan, Maa, 120 families or 400 individuals; Lower Madapo, Bankerohan, 70 families or 200 individuals; El Rio in Bacaca, 336 families or 1,700 individuals; Gravahan, Bankerohan, 350 families or 1,600 individuals; Calle Plaque, Teachers village, Calinan, 84 families or 240 individuals and in San Rafael, Maa, 1,621 families or 450 individuals.

The Davao City Rescue Operations team is comprised by the Central 911, Red Cross volunteers and government troops.

The disaster has also forced authorities to suspend classes.

“We are suspending classes tomorrow, January 21, from Kinder to high school,” Mayor Duterte announced saying that they based the decision on the 24-hour public weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa said rains will continue for the next three days.  As of 5 AM, January 20, the tail-end of a cold front affects Northern Mindanao.  It forecasted that Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms.  It added, moderate to strong winds will prevail throughout the country while the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Department of Education-XI spokesperson Dodong Atillo told davaotoday.com that they are “suspending classes for both the public and private schools” as declared by Mayor Duterte.

“The situation in evacuation centers is chaotic and the immediate needs like food are immense.  So at this point, we are prioritizing the needs of children and the sick,” Sr. Noemi Degala, Marist missionary sister and convener of Balsa Mindanao.

For environmental rights group Panalipdan, Davao villages “do not have concrete disaster preparedness plan to reduce and manage the risks of climate-related disasters despite it having 404 flood-prone areas.”

Juland Suazo, Panalipdan’s public information officer said that “deforestation and land-use conversion are the main contributing factors” of the flooding.

“We urge the government and people to form community-based disaster response committees and conduct training especially on flood drill which is given less attention compared to earthquake drill,” Suazo said, adding that “each family must have a home flood plan.”

Meanwhile, in Davao del Norte, some 1,662 families or 8,193 individuals from the towns of Sto. Tomas, Kapalong and Asuncion have evacuated because of flooding, said Romulo Tagalo, Davao del Norte Province’s information officer.

As of 6 PM today, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario declared a state of emergency, canceling all classes from kinder to highschool.  One Ramon Ampong, 63, a resident of Sonlon village, was declared missing.  (Ace R. Morandante, John Rizle L. Saligumba & Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)

Davao river swells due to heavy rain, thousands affected

Chronologically arranged

Storified by DavaoToday· Sun, Jan 20 2013 06:35:13

In Buklad village #Asuncion #DavNor, evacuees stay at the nat'l highway. Other evacuees are in purok centers on higher ground. #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
@cnmarfil ingat! http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/romina d. sta.clara
In the villages of Magatos, Canatan and Loon in #Asuncion town, #DavNor, evacuees are staying in village halls. #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
Evacuees from #Mamacao village are now in Mamacao Elementary School, also in #Kapalong town, #DavNor. #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
RT @MickBasa: Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate. READ: http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/ via @davaotodayromina d. sta.clara
Evacuees from #Maniki village in #Kapalong, #DavNor are temporarily staying in Kapalong Municipal Gym. #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
#Pagasa's Special Weather Forecast as of 10AM, Jan. 20: #ComVal & #DavOr will experience cloudy w/ light to moderate rains until Jan. 22DavaoToday.com
RT @MickBasa: Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate. READ: http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/ via @davaotodaykenette jean
Pagasa: As of today (January 20), there is no tropical cyclone existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
RT @MickBasa: Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate. READ: http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/ via @davaotodayinday espina varona
RT @MickBasa: Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate. READ: http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/ via @davaotodayKarlo Pates
Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate. READ: http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/01/20/davao-floods-force-37000-to-evacuate/ via @davaotodayMick Basa
DavaoToday curates pictures of Davao river on social media.Thorsten Jaschkowitz
Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate http://shar.es/CmpuFEd Abong
RT @DavaoToday: Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate http://bit.ly/13TQm2RMarilou A. Tuburan
Davao floods force 37,000 to evacuate http://bit.ly/13TQm2RDavaoToday.com
RT @DavaoToday: As of 3pm: 7438 families, 29193 dependents affected by #davaofloods in Davao City alone | Davao City CSSDOKenny Nodalo
As of 3pm: 7438 families, 29193 dependents affected by #davaofloods in Davao City alone | Davao City CSSDODavaoToday.com
As of 6pm, Davao del Note Gov. Del Rosario declared suspension classes from prep to hiskul , both public and private schools #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
As of 6pm, Davao del Note Gov. Del Rosario declared suspension classes from prep to hiskul , both public and private schools #davaofloodsDavaoToday.com
RT @DavaoToday: #Davao river swells due to heavy rain, thousands affected http://sfy.co/gDid #storify #davao #floodMharyiah Aragon
DavaoToday curates pictures of Davao river on social media.http://storify.com/davaotoday/davao-river-swells-due-to-heavy-rain-thousands-affDavaoToday Davao
Jade Valley, pinakamababaw na part. #rescue #jadevalley #jade #flood #davao #davaocity #help #sos #operations #instamomentAia P.
Oh boy! Bankerohan Bridge... http://pic.twitter.com/hpD8GEztToto
#Davao disaster office (CDRRMC) says elementary, high school classes tomorrow will be suspended due to #flood aftermath via @johnkshrapDavaoToday.com
Davao River as of today. #davao #flood #davaocity #davaoriver #rescue #help #SOS #911Aia P.
Families affected as of 1:20p, Tigato/Jade Valley: 288, Sangilangan/Maa: 120, El Rio: 130, Bankerohan: 350. #davao #floodDavaoToday.com
davao river umaapaw !lets pray for them . :( .#jadevalley#bankerohan#gravahanKrystel Jane Lape
RT: Bankerohan Bridge/Davao River Jan.20, 13 http://pic.twitter.com/1dUvaeEMmaverick824
Here's some of the pictures of the flood today.http://storify.com/davaotoday/davao-flood-in-pictures-ugcDavaoToday Davao
RT @iamJo_Seph: @itsmejanDryle @itschiegarcia @ancalerts @abscbnbreaking @abscbnnews houses near the bankerohan bridge and river... http://pic.twitter.com/8LlaFDL3LeojAko
bankerohan river O.O taasa na oy ! Lord protect us duol2 me sa river :( dili unta mosulod ang tubig sa blay . http://pic.twitter.com/10v6sw2Dkristine damasin
@markieskie @itsmejandryle @ancalerts @abscbnbreaking @abscbnnews under the bankerohan bridge... http://pic.twitter.com/3ULVqMOniamJo_Seph

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