DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/09 September) – Flash floods displaced some 2,000 residents of Malungon in Sarangani province Saturday afternoon as heavy rains caused the overflow of the Tinagakan-Buayan riverA situation report as of 5 p.m. Sunday on the website of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said flash floods struck five puroks of Barangay Malandag in Malungon town, displacing 472 families or 2,360 residents.
Some 30 families or 150 persons have sought refuge at the barangay multi-purpose gym while 361 families or 1,805 persons from Barangay Malandag and 81 families or 405 residents from Barangay Datal Tampal are either staying with relatives, in makeshift shelters or have returned home.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) in its situation update number 4 at 3 p.m. Sunday, said joint elements of the municipal government, Philippine National Police , 1002nd Brigade and 73rd IB, including the CAFGUs and 1205th Community Defense Center composed of Army Reservists “are currently conducting the ‘Operation Linis’ in order to clear flash flood debris on the roads and river banks.”
The update quoted Malungon Mayor Reynaldo Constantino as saying he is “thankful that there was no casualty during the calamity and I greatly appreciate the assistance given by other government and non government agencies.”
Constantino said the calamity “could not (have been) addressed promptly if not for the quick response of the government agencies in the area, particularly the Malungon MDRRMC together with the PNP and the Philippine Army.”
In its earlier update at 11 a.m., the MDRRMC reported eight houses were swept away by the floods.
In its 9 a.m. update, the MDRRMC clarified that persons reported to be missing had been accounted for and found to be safe. But two persons were brought to the hospital for hypertension and epilepsy.
The floods rendered the roads connecting to barangays Kibala, Kiblat and Malanda, impassable as of then. Landslides were also reported to have occurred in several areas on the road going to sitio Lamlifew, Barangay Datal Tampal, but these were cleared by joint elements of the Malungon Engineering Office, local PNP, and Philippine Army as of 3 a.m., the MDRRMC said. (MindaNews)