Families evacuated following flashflood

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines– Around 25 families living along the banks of the Siaton River and the Canaway River in Siaton, Negros Oriental were evacuated to safer ground Monday evening following flashfloods spurred by torrential rains that caused the rivers to overflow.

Angelo Tiongson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) confirmed that the families opted for a pre-emptive evacuation at the town gym and returned early Tuesday to their homes after authorities declared it safe for them to do so. Capitol, through the PDRRMC, sent food packs for the evacuees.

Meanwhile, the body of a 29-year-old man was found along the shore of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental recently after he drowned in floodwater as he was crossing a bridge in that southern town.

Inspector Rogelio Pacificar, chief of police of Sta. Catalina, identified the victim as a certain Reynaldo Saguban Adaya, a resident of sitio Sto. Niño in Barangay San Pedro of the town. — (FREEMAN)