8 barangays in Koronadal submerged in flood

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines - Eight areas in Koronadal City have been affected by heavy floods after torrential rains since Friday caused Bulok Creek and Marbel River to overflow.

City administrator Cyrus Urbano said that barangays Assumption, Mambucal, Sta. Cruz, San Isidro, Carpenter Hill, Namnama, Concepcion and Zone 3 in Poblacion have been submerged in floodwater.

Urbano said that while the city government is considering place the city under a state of calamity, the extent of the damage is being evaluated.

The Bulok Creek that traverses the downtown area carried waist-deep waters to Barangay Zone 3,  forcing some families to evacuate and calling for relief operations to start, Urbano recounted.

"We have enough food stocks for the relief operations and the city social welfare and development office has been stockpiling additional supplies," Urbano said.

About 18 families from Namnama and Concepcion, meanwhile, have already been evacuated as several houses in riverside communities have been damaged.

Urbano said the damage assessment will determine whether authorities will declare a state of calamity.

No casualties have been recorded as of posting time. - Camille Diola