Heavy rain floods Davao; classes suspended

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Heavy rainfall since Wednesday night has caused widespread flooding in this city.

Mayor Sebastian Duterte suspended classes yesterday in public and private schools in several barangays, which were affected by flooding.

Duterte cited a flood advisory issued by the state weather bureau on a low-pressure area (LPA) monitored off Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte.

These are in Barangays Bago Gallera, Bago Aplaya, Talomo Proper, Matina Aplaya, Ma-a and Baliok in Talomo district and Sto. Niño in Tugbok district.

Thousands of residents were stranded as their homes were submerged in floodwater. Major roads and highways were also flooded.

In a post on Facebook, the Philippine Coast Guard-Southeastern Mindanao district said 28 members of its Deployable Response Group, Special Operations Unit and Davao station brought residents to evacuation centers and provided them medical assistance.

As this developed, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said generally fair weather is forecast across the country over the weekend as the LPA, which was last monitored off Palawan, dissipated yesterday.

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon or amihan is affecting Northern Luzon.

Isolated light rains, which will have no significant impact, are forecast over Batanes and Babuyan Island.

Easterlies are affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may see isolated rains due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms. — Romina Cabrera