Heavy rains flood city anew

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of Cebuanos once again faced nature’s fury after a 30-minute downpour inundated parts of Cebu City yesterday afternoon.

Colon Street and nearby streets became rivers, with some areas as deep as four feet after heavy rain which started at around 2 p.m.

Many establishments along Colon St. were flooded and some hastily put up improved barriers to keep out the water.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management also reported that traffic was very heavy on major thoroughfares in the city.

CITOM operations said D. Jakosalem St., Magallanes St., P. Lopez St., Bonifacio St., V. Gullas St., MJ Cuenco Ave., Osmeña Blvd. and Junquera and Sancianco streets were heavily flooded and vehicles became trapped in the rising floodwaters.

Vehicles in Barangay Mabolo and surrounding roads were also stalled by floodwaters.

On the southern side of the city, N. Bacalso Ave. was also heavily clogged with traffic with some parts of the road in barangays Mambaling and Bulacao under water.

Romeo Quiño of the homeowner’s association of Sitio Tambisan, Barangay Tisa, said floodwaters entered his house and caused a lot of damage.

“Dako na gyud og damage! Grabe na kaayo ang baha, taga-liog na gud ang ubang lugar,” he said.

He also said that around 150 families in their sitio, which is on low ground, were affected by the floods.

“Bisan mihunong na ang uwan, nagkataas gihapon ang tubig,” he said.

Edwin Saldua, 46, and his seven-year-old daughter, Christine, were trapped under Tagunol Bridge along Sanciangko St. following strong surges of floodwaters. The two were reportedly scavenging trash when they were trapped. 

Elements from the Bureau of Fire Protection were able to rescue them.  

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management head, Alvin Santillan said the city’s drainage system can no longer cope with the large volume of water during heavy rains.

“Di na gyud madala sa atong mga kanal ang volume sa water,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 has recommended “no habitation zones” areas which have been recently affected by flooding and also advised the city to enforce the three-meter easement zone along the river banks in Sitio Common, Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City.

It also recommended the immediate evacuation of those living in more than 30 houses along the riverbank in the sitio and the construction of riverbank protection like dikes, riprap and other structural mitigating measures to stabilize the slope.

The suggestions were made after geologists Maria Elena Lupo and Josephine Aleta conducted a field investigation after four houses were swept away along the five-meter scoured riverbank.

In a statement, MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo urged the local government units particularly the barangay captains to make use of the geohazard threat advisories distributed by the MGB geohazard assessment team to avoid loss of lives and properties especially at this critical time where precipitation is heavy and abnormal.

Alburo likewise appealed to communities in high-risk areas to listen to their barangay officials.

The team also reiterates the recommendations as contained in the August 17, 2007 geohazard threat advisory issued to Barangay Bacayan where it listed the following: Desilting and cleaning of river channel, proper disposal of garbage, relocation of residents along riverbanks, and provision of riverbank protection like dikes.

MGB-7 also issued another geohazard threat advisory on September 27, 2010. According to the team, the river embankment is prone to scouring because it is characterized by highly weathered rocks that easily reach saturation level given the amount or intensity of rainfall. – (FREEMAN)