Over 500 Maguindanao del Norte locals flee flooding, landslides

More than 500 residents of Maguindanao del Norte's Upi town fled their homes as rain caused by the trough of the low-pressure area (LPA) and the northeast monsoon (Amihan) triggered floods and landslides in parts of Mindanao.

According to a report by Raffy Tima on “24 Oras” on Monday, the flooding in Upi affected both residential areas and rice fields.

In Maguindanao del Sur, three barangays in the municipality of Datu Montawal were also flooded after the Pulangi River burst its banks.

The Davao Region was likewise affected by the inclement weather as flash floods swept away houses in Calinan town in Davao City.

Around 23 families were affected by landslides in the municipality of Maco in Davao de Oro. No one was hurt in the incident.

While state weather bureau PAGASA reported that rains from the LPA and Amihan in the Visayas and Mindanao have stopped, scattered rain showers are still possible over these areas.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Aldzar Aurelio said the LPA was expected to dissolve, but the Amihan would continue to bring rain over the country.

“‘Pag tuluyang lumakas itong Amihan e pag-ulan naman yung idudulot nito sa Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon kasama na rin ang Bicol Region, MIMAROPA dahil sa magtatagal pa itong shear line so aabot pa ng ilang araw,” said Aurelio.

(The Amihan will bring rain over the Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, and MIMAROPA should it continue to strengthen. The shear line will last for a few more days.)

“Itong shear line hindi naman aabot sa bandang Visayas at Mindanao,” he said.

(The shear line will not affect the Visayas and Mindanao.)

According to the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the reported death toll from the continuous rains since January 2 increased to 28.

However, only 15 of the deaths were confirmed. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News