2 die, hundreds flee homes due to flash floods in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY —Two people died while hundreds in several towns flee their homes due to flash floods in North Cotabato province, a disaster management official said Friday.
 
Cynthia Ortega, North Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer identified the fatalities as Wennie Pajenado, 60, of Barangay Macalangot, Arakan and Mark Ryan Amores, 14, of Barangay Bangilan, Kabacan town.
 
^{University of Southern Mindanao compound. —Williamor Magbanua} 

According to Ortega, the two were swept by floodwater when the Naje and Kabacan Rivers overflowed due rain that hit the province Wednesday evening until late Thursday morning.

Two houses owned by Arlene Gamboa and Arnold Gamboa were also swept away by rampaging water from the Bantac River in Magpet town, Ortega said.
 
Magpet councilor Antonio Taquinan, also the town's Indigenous People's mandatory representative, blamed the flooding on illegal logging activities.

He said several logs were seen floating in the Bantac River that overflowed on Thursday.
 
Disaster management authorities also said six low-lying villages in the town of Kabacan were hit by floods of up to 10 feet deep, prompting residents to abandon their homes.
 
Flooded areas included, Barangays Kayaga, Poblacion, Aringay, Salapungan, Pedtad and Buluan.
 
At least 150 families or close to 1,000 individuals are temporarily staying at the town's gymnasium, University of Southern Mindanao (USM) gym, and in makeshift shelters beside the highway.
 
In nearby President Roxas town, at least four of its low-lying barangays were also flooded.
 
Meanwhile, Ortega said vast rice fields and livestock farms were also damaged by the floods, but estimates on the cost of damage were not yet available. — Williamor A. Magbanua/LBG, GMA News