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1 dead, 20K evacuate as floods hit Davao Region

By Lilian Mellejor

January 27, 2019, 6:21 pm

<p><strong>OFF TO SAFER GROUND.</strong> A couple from Tigatto, Buhangin District, Davao City, together with their child, walk on their way to a temporary shelter during a pre-emptive evacuation in the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. <em>(Photo by Lilian Mellejor)</em></p>

OFF TO SAFER GROUND. A couple from Tigatto, Buhangin District, Davao City, together with their child, walk on their way to a temporary shelter during a pre-emptive evacuation in the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. (Photo by Lilian Mellejor)

DAVAO CITY -- A villager was killed and nearly 20,000 people across Davao Region evacuated to safer grounds after major river channels swelled to alarming levels due to continuous light to moderate rains on Saturday.

A landslide incident in Barangay Tapia, Montevista, Compostela Valley province killed Rommel Gogo, while 12-year-old Krisel Hermosora is still missing after she was swept by the rampaging waters of Handorumog River in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

Leslie Lao Francisco, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 11 or Davao Region, said on Sunday that based on the reports of the provincial and city disaster risk reduction and management offices, the flood and landslide incidents in 58 barangays across the region forced the evacuation of 4,116 families or 19,923 individuals.

The OCD report showed that the heavily-affected areas in the region were in the municipalities of Kapalong, New Corella and Talaingod in Davao del Norte; Monkayo, Laak, Compostela, Montevista, New Bataan, Maco, Mawab and Nabunturan in Compostela Valley and Lasang and Bunawan in Davao City.

Francisco said the families that evacuated are still sheltered in evacuation centers in Compostela Valley because the areas remain under heavy rainfall warning.

She said, however, that roads declared as not passable due to flooding on Saturday are now open to traffic, except those in Barangay Magupising, Baulio Dujali; the Tagum to Kapalong national road; Suann to Florida road; and all provincial roads in New Corella, Davao del Norte.

The national highway along Barangay Caragan Valley going to Davao Oriental is not passable due to landslide.

In a separate report, Davao Oriental Provincial Information Officer Karen Lou Deloso said 112 families from seven barangays in Cateel were evacuated by troops of the Philippine Army’s 701st Brigade under Col. Manuel Sequitin.

Flooding was reported in the seven villages -- Abejod, Santa Felomina, San Miguel, San Vicente, San Alfonso, San Rafael, and Alegria -- which are located near the Aragon Dam that is seen to possibly overflow if heavy rains continue.

Deloso said Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has ordered the prepositioning of all heavy equipment in all local government units to Cateel town to help in a possible clearing operation.

Some 1,000 food packs have also been sent to the seven villages, she said.

Here in Davao City, chief information officer Jefry Tupas said the latest situation report showed that 2,175 families or 9,327 individuals evacuated due to flooding in 13 areas under the first and second districts.

As of Sunday morning, Tupas said 96 families remain in different evacuation centers in Lasang, Bunawan, Maa, Barangay 74-A and Barangay 19-B and 654 families from Barangay Tigatto.

In its latest weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Mindanao will continue to experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting the island.

PAGASA said there might be flash floods and landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.

Orange and red rain alert are still up as rains will be more frequent along the coastal and mountain slope areas. (PNA)

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