Flash floods displace 125 Cotabato families

KORONADAL CITY – Flashfloods whipped by strong winds and sudden heavy rain injured a woman, swept away several houses and sent 125 families fleeing their houses Friday evening in a remote village of this city, an official said.

Jean Gabucan, city social welfare and development officer of Koronadal, said the flashfloods took place in Sitios El-Gawel, Takilay kag Mamalna in Barangay Saravia, this city, at around 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Gabucan said a certain Christina Lomolan, of legal age, and a resident of Sitio El-Gawel, was injured. She is presently confined at the provincial hospital of South Cotabato.

Reports relayed to Gabucan by village officials said five houses were swept by rampaging waters from the upper part of the El-Gawel mountain, one of the tourist attractions of the city.

“Sinagasa ang mga bahay ng strong current of water from the upper part of the El-Gawel mountain. Mabuti na lang nakaalis na ang mga tao nang mangyari ang flashflood doon,” Gabucan told a radio station here yesterday.

Reports reaching The STAR said around 125 families from the three sitios were evacuated to barangay proper.

Gabucan said they have already attended to the needs of the evacuees by giving them relief goods needed by the victims.

Councilors Oscar Pagunsan, Esther Marin Catorce and Noni Morales also distributed rice, canned goods and noodles to the affected families.