Lanao Sur declares calamity as Vinta sinks towns

This December 22, 2017 photo shows a swollen Mandulog River in Iligan City. (Divina Suson / davaotoday.com)

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – Lanao del Sur has been placed under state of calamity anew as many parts of the province struggle to recover from the wrath of tropical storm Vinta (international name: Tembin).

The declaration also includes the Islamic City of Marawi, which months ago was placed in one when fighting with the Daesh-inspired Maute group erupted months ago.

This was confirmed by Zia Alonto Adiong, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao assemblyman and spokesperson of the province’s crisis management body.

“The lake (Lanao) is swelling, thereby affecting the communities nearby,” said Adiong on Friday, December 22.
Flash floods first hit the municipalities of Ditsaan-Ramain, Bubong, Buadi Puso Buntong, and Poona Bayabao.

Adiong earlier appealed to the National Power Corporation to open the sluice gates at Agus 1 hyroelectric power plant and the regulatory dams in Marawi, as he said this would ease flooding in the province.

Agus 1 is situated 702 meters above sea level.

State weather bureau PAGASA said tropical storm Vinta has weakened with sustained winds falling to 60km/h, but since it made landfall here, two have been reported dead.

In April, a Lanao del Sur town was placed under state of calamity when a magnitude 6 earthquake hit Wao. It was followed by another series of earthquake in September, with damages reaching P10 million. (davaotoday.com)

(Editor’s note: We previously reported that Marawi was excluded in the declaration, when in fact it wasn’t. We regret the error)