Thousands flee as Davao del Norte rivers swell from rains

by MART D. SAMBALUD
Davao Today

TAGUM CITY – Heavy rains brought by the low pressure area affecting Mindanao has caused rivers to swell in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, prompting authorities to conduct a pre-emptive evacuation in low-lying and high risk areas in certain towns.

The Office of Civil Defense-Region 11 reported that evacuees in Davao del Norte include 130 families from New Corella, 76 families from Asuncion, 37 families from Kapalong, 13 families in Carmen.  While in Compostela Valley, 110 families from Laak, 33 families from Nabunturan, 43 families from Montevista, 50 families from Compostela and two families from Monkayo have sought shelter in evacuation centers.

Romulo Tagalo, OIC of the Davao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (PDRRMC) told Davao Today that floods have hit Asuncion in barangays Conception, Sagayen, Napungas, Dona Andrea, Sonlon, Camansa, Liguyon, Buan, Cambagonoy and Canatan.

Floods also hit the municipality of New Corella in Barangays Limbasan and New Bohol.

In Santo Tomas municipality, roads in Brgy. Kinamayan has been flooded and impassable, as roads going to Tagum City are flooded, according to the municipal DDRMC.

In Kapalong, the local DDRMC reported Maniki has been flooded due to the overflow of Libuganon River and Saug Rivers. The Kapalong LGU has assigned some 37 displaced families at the municipal gym and KCast Building and assigned the municipal plaza as area for the injured to seek medical help.

Tagalo advised that roads going to Laak town in Compostela Valley are impassable and commuters should take the Lanao, San Isidro route.

“We are advising the public to take our advisory seriously as we are targeting a zero casualty amid the floods in the entire province,” Tagalo said.

A landslide occurred Saturday morning at Purok 6, El Salvador in New Corella, but no casualties or missing have been reported according to Eric Rosilla of the Davao del Norte PDRRMC.

The Davao del Norte PDRRMC reported as of 10 pm Saturday that 300 families or 1,395 people have been evacuated.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on its Facebook post at 10 pm Saturday said heavy rains are expected to continue in Davao region and Caraga region until Sunday, and advised the public and local government units to monitor threats of floods and landslides. (Mart D. Sambalud, davaotoday.com)