Flashfloods hit parts of Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — Flashfloods swept through villages in General Santos City and several towns in South Cotabato amid heavy rains on Tuesday night.

Local officials and members of the city disaster risk reduction and management council said more than 20 areas in General Santos City were submerged in floodwaters.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, ordered the Task Force GenSan and 601st Infantry Brigade to help in emergency response operations in affected areas.

The Soccsksargen police was also tasked to help in flood response efforts.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. deployed teams to Banga town, where farming villages were affected.

In Zamboanga City, hundreds of residents evacuated their homes as flash floods inundated 10 villages at past midnight yesterday due to rains spawned by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

The city disaster risk reduction and management office said 1,830 houses were submerged in floodwaters up to four feet deep in some areas.

City social welfare and development office chief Ma. Socorro Rojaz said they distributed relief goods, such as food packs, to displaced families.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the ITCZ would continue to affect Zamboanga peninsula until today.