Mindanao floods: 1 dead, 351 families displaced

MANILA, Philippines - One person died and at least 351 families were affected by flashfloods that have hit parts of Mindanao in the past two days, disaster management officials said yesterday.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said one adult male died of drowning yesterday afternoon in Barangay Pangyan in Glan, Sarangani. Officials were still determining the victim’s identity.

Ramos said 26 families in Sarangani have been evacuated to a gymnasium for their safety.

At least 320 other families were affected by flooding in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, 23 of them evacuated to higher grounds, the NDRRMC said in a report.

Four barangays in the province were also flooded, namely Obial, Sta. Clara, Hinalaan and Himulan.

On the other hand, flooding displaced five families in Barangay Poblacion, Kidapawan City.

Ramos said the flashfloods were triggered by continuous heavy rains spawned by a low pressure area.

He said the Kalamansig Engineering Task Force has mobilized heavy equipment to declog culverts.

The Kidapawan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Red Cross have conducted rescue operations to assist families trapped in their houses.

Disaster management and social welfare officials have also pre-positioned rescue equipment and relief goods.

Ramos said local civil defense officials are continuously monitoring the situation in the flood-hit areas.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC yesterday alerted its local units on the shallow low pressure area spotted near Southern Mindanao.

“You are hereby directed to monitor the situation and undertake precautionary measures in your area of responsibility,” Ramos said in a memorandum to local disaster officials.

“Emphasis should be on proactive actions – evacuation rather than rescue,” he said.

The NDRRMC also advised residents in low-lying areas and along mountain slopes to be on alert for possible flooding and landslides.  – With Evelyn Macairan