When flash floods gripped Cotabato folk in terror

Koronadal City — For most residents of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, Sept. 6 doesn’t just ring a bell; it reminds them of a tragedy that changed their lives forever.

On that fateful day, nine years ago, people of all ages were gripped in terror and grief as the worst-ever flash floods in Central Mindanao struck villages in the two provinces, claiming lives and destroying agricultural crops on their path.

A portion of Lake Maughan’s crater wall collapsed, sending floodwaters — an estimated 50 million cubic meters — rampaging through low-lying farms and villages.

Disaster officials said the Sept. 6, 1995 flash floods killed more than a hundred people and destroyed millions of pesos worth of property and agricultural crops.

Lake Maughan is nestled in the crater of Mt. Parker, a dormant volcano in South Cotabato, in T’boli town, an hour’s drive from this city.

Many are still baffled until now why the crater wall of Lake Maughan collapsed. But some blamed it on treasure hunters searching for supposed Yamashita treasure, who had blasted the lake’s outlet in an attempt to drain it, sending millions of cubic meters of water flowing down Mt. Parker.

Villagers have their own tales to tell about the tragedy, and how they have tried, year after year, to rise from it.

Their tales though spoke of one lesson: Preserve Nature.