Severe rains bring massive floods to several areas in Mindanao

Severe rains brought massive flooding to several parts of Mindanao, according to Cedric Castillo’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

In Zamboanga City, rescuers used rubber boats to evacuate residents from neck-deep flooding, even carrying out a baby in a basin, while the city hall was preemptively evacuated as the river overflowed. 

“As of this moment, nasa critical level...We are monitoring and coordinating with the water district. Preemptive measure has been done, 'yung evacuation,” said Dr. Elmier Apolinario, chief of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Even a school that had been designated an evacuation center had to be evacuated. 

Elsewhere, several areas in Misamis Occidental were submerged in massive flooding; a state of calamity was declared in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; and at least 12 barangays were affected in Basilan while chest-deep waters flooded parts of Lamitan City.

In the Visayas, classes in all levels were suspended in storm-hit Eastern Samar and Bohol.

Heavy rains occurred in Mindanao over the weekend due to a low pressure area (LPA). It is expected to affect the region for a few days more.

“Bagamat maliit ang tsansang maging bagyo ay ito inaasahan natin. Magiging mabagal ang pagkilos palapit sa Visayas at Mindanao area within the next two to three days. Kaya yung banta ng pag-ulan nandyan, pwede magdulot ng pagbaha lalo na sa low-lying area. At pagguho ng lupa sa mga areas malapit sa gilid ng bundok,” said PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez.

“Ilang araw nang nakararanas ng pag-ulan itong mga lugar na ito. Kahit sabihin natin na light to moderate lamang ang ulan. Pero kung saturated na ang mga kalupaan, pwede pa ring magkaroon ng mga pagguho ng mga lupa,” he said.

Meanwhile, at least 10 individuals reportedly died due to the effects of the LPA that has been affecting the country since January 2, data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Joint Information Center showed Wednesday.

In its recent disaster media bulletin, the OCD said it removed one fatality in Capiz from the list of 11 reported deaths on Tuesday as his/her cause of death was due to localized thunderstorms on December 31, 2022, and not because of the LPA.

Four individuals were also reportedly injured.

So far, a total of 291,826 people or 69,308 families were affected by the LPA in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and the Bangsamoro Region. 

Of them, 3,224 individuals or 784 families were displaced. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA Integrated News