1,090 families affected by floods in Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines — More than a thousand families in Iloilo City were affected following intermittent rain that resulted to flooding brought by Typhoon "Mina."

As of 12 noon yesterday, seven barangays in Iloilo City were reported affected.

According to Norlito Bautista, city administrator, Brgy. Sooc in Arevalo district has the most number of affected families with 369.

In Jaro district, affected areas are Brgy. Calubihan with 234, Brgy. Brgy. Desamparador with 206, and Brgy. Buntatala with nine. In Mandurriao district, Bakhaw has 150 affected families, Bolilao with 100, and Calajunan with 22.

Of these number however, Bautista said there were 43 families evacuated. Fifteen of these were in Brgy. So-oc, fourteen in Calajunan, seven each in Desamparados and Bakhaw, and four in Calubihan. Evacuees in Jaro district temporarily stayed at the Jaro Public Market.

Although not directly affected by Mina, the city experienced heavy rains due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

It was gathered that in some areas of Desamparados and Calubihan, the water went waist-deep.

According to reports, two elderly were trapped in their flooded home at Brgy. Desamparados but they were immediately rescued by a team from the Philippine Navy.

Aside from the seven barangays, information indicated that flood waters also went up in barangays Sinikway and Ticud in La Paz district and Lanit and Cubay in Jaro.

Meanwhile, Bautista said the City Social Welfare and Development Office was already alerted to respond to the needs of the affected families. Aside from the relief good, residents of flooded areas were also given prophylaxis against leptospirosis.

As of last week, Iloilo City recorded 19 cases and one death due to leptospirosis.

As this developed, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reminded residents of low-lying areas and those living at coastal areas to be wary of the effects of Mina.