Slithering snake in Siniloan flood sends residents into panic

Fear gripped residents of flooded Brgy. Wawa in Siniloan, Laguna, early Friday morning when a snake measuring over four feet was seen swimming in floodwater, GMA News' Oscar Oida reported on 24 Oras.

"Ang laki. Hindi kayang hulihin talaga ng buhay 'yan, baka makakagat," Ryan Castillo, a resident, said.

Out of fright and panic, the residents beat the snake to death.

The same report showed the flooding caused by Tropical Depression Salome to the 15 barangays of Siniloan, a catch basin.

"Problem lagi dito, issue diyan lagi yung pagiging silted ng Laguna Lake, yun lagi ang main issue kasi nga mababaw na talaga yung lawa," Siniloan Mayor Eduardo Tibay said.

Ricefields in Mabitac, Laguna, another catch basin, became virtual ponds due to the rain brought Salome, though Mabitac municipal administrator Romeo Alarde remarked that the flooding abated substantially by noon.

"Yung pagtaas po ng tubig, unexpected po, napakabilis. Within half an hour, mataas na po kaagad yung tubig," Alarde said. "Ang bayan ng Mabitac po kasi, catch basin ng other provinces, Laguna, Quezon."

Weather bureau PAGASA lifted all storm signals on Friday noon as Salome traversed past Central Luzon onto the West Philippine Sea.

Salome is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News