Zoraida now an LPA but leaves behind Comval, DavNor flooding

Courtesy of PAGASA DOST Facebook page

By MART D. SAMBALUD
Davao Today

(Updated)

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – Typhoon Zoraida has lowered to a low pressure area (LPA) as of 2 pm this afternoon, but its heavy rains earlier left a wake of overflowing rivers in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte provinces.

With this development, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) lifted all public storm warning signals but warned that flooding is possible in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

The Comval Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported overflow of rivers in the towns of Compostela, Laak, Maco, Montevista, Nabunturan and Pantukan.

Rains from morning until noon caused the overflow of Osmeña River in Compostela, Amorcruz River in Laak, Hijo River in Maco and Manat River in Montevista.

Flooded areas were reported in Nabunturan town, in the villages of Basak, Magsaysay, Sta. Maria, Bukal and New Sibonga; in Pantukan town, particularly in Brgy. Kingking; in Mabini town, specifically in Brgy. Pindasan and Cadunan.

Some areas were deemed not passable due to the overflow such as in Maco in Brgys. Elizalde and Brgy Malamodao.

A landslide was reported in Mount Diwata, Monkayo with no reported casualties.

Rains have reportedly stopped by midday but the weather remained cloudy.

Some 174 families were evacuated in three municipalities of Compostela Valley (Comval), namely Nabunturan, Monkayo and New Bataan.

The number of evacuees and evacuation centers in Comval are as follows:

• Nabunturan : 39 families (21 at Brgy. Magsaysay covered court, 11 at brgy. health center and seven at the multi-purpose hall)
• Monkayo : 55 families (45 at Pasian Elementary School, 10 at brgy. health center)
• New Bataan : 80 families at Brgy. Cabinuangan covered court

Meanwhile, evacuation of residents were also done in Davao del Norte as authorities monitor villages for flooding.

Tagum’s City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) officer Giovanni Rellon told Davao Today they are monitoring barangays San Miguel, Pandapan, Bincungan, Cuambogan, and Pagsabangan as threats of rivers overflowing and may cause flooding to the low-lying areas.

Eric Rosillo, Incident Commander of Davao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said they are closely monitoring the different local government units in the province, adding that some of LGUs have conducted a pre-emptive evacuation already in response to the data collected based on water level monitoring systems.

In Tagum City, 181 households from Purok Lemon, Barangay Pandapan were evacuated to Saludares elementary School, Brgy. Magdum. Seven families in Brgy. Pagsabangan were also pre-emptively evacuated with the threat of the Saug River overflowing, the Tagum City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said.

The evacuees in Tagum are as follows:

Pandapan : 181 families in Saludares Elementary School
San Miguel : 134 families in Laureta Elementary School
Cuambongan : 30 families in Catalan Elementary School
Canocotan : 91 families in Luis Lina Elementary School

In Sto. Tomas, five families from Barangay Talomo and six others in Talaingod town along the riverbanks evacuated to safer grounds.

In Asuncion, 25 families evacuated to Lawang Bridge in Purok 15 Poblacion and are now sheltered in the town’s municipal gymnasium.

San Isidro, Dujali and Kapalong, Carmen towns are in normal condition as of this time.

Romulo Tagalo, director of the Provincial DRRMC said the decision to lift the suspension of classes on Thursday depends on the discretion of the municipal mayors.

He added that one man is said to be missing in Brgy. Sampao, Kapalong town as search and rescue is currently operating along Libuganon River.

A report from Dodong Solis of Radyo ni Juan said there were fallen logs spotted in Pagsabangan River in Kapalong.

Meanwhile, in Davao Oriental, an undisclosed number of families in the shoreline of Cateel town were evacuated as heavy rains swept the area.

Governor Corazon Malanyaon, in a radio interview, credited residents who made preemptive evacuation for the zero casualties, as they had learned from the disaster of Typhoon Pablo last December. (Mart D. Sambalud/ davaotoday.com)