130 families flee summer flash flood

MANILA, Philippines - More than a hundred families left their homes for higher ground after a flash flood inundated an area in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City Sunday night.

Data from the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) showed that around 130 families in Purok Uno, Upper Nawasa left their homes after floodwaters reached as high as four feet at past 8 p.m.

A total of 70 structures were also affected by the flood caused by the sudden heavy downpour in parts of Metro Manila on Sunday. The DPOS said the residents who left their homes were able to return to their houses when the floodwaters subsided yesterday morning.

Superintendent Ramon Pranada, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 6, said most of the evacuees were informal settlers. He said there were no casualties recorded in the incident.

Jesus Regal Jr. of the city engineering department said they immediately conducted de-clogging operations to clear drainages and waterways in the area.

Regal confirmed reports that medical wastes were among those found clogging the waterways. He urged residents to refrain from throwing garbage in drainages and report those who will dump wastes in the area.

He said residents must cooperate with the city government in maintaining the cleanliness of waterways as they are the ones who are the first affected by the floods.

Regal said the city engineering department will continue its operations to ensure that no similar incident will happen in the future. – With Reinir Padua