Residents near Talomo River in Davao City advised to evacuate amid increasing water level

Residents of Barangay Tugbok in Davao City were advised to evacuate to safer grounds on Friday evening as the water level in the Talomo River continues to increase amid the heavy rains spurred by the low-pressure area (LPA) and the localized thunderstorms.

On Facebook, the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) told residents to conduct pre-emptive evacuation after the river’s water level increased.

“Due to the water level increase in Talomo river, now on Code Red(Critical Level) and still increasing along Brgy. Tugbok Proper, all BDRRMC's [Barangay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office]  volunteers, safety and security clusters within the areas of Talomo River are advised to conduct pre-emptive evacuations to the communities living along Talomo River,” the CDRRMO said.

As of 9:58 p.m., the posted the following update:

• Davao River along Brgy. Tamugan is monitored at Code Yellow(Alert Level) and gradually subsiding.
• Talomo River along Brgy. Tugbok Proper is still monitored at Code Red(Critical Level) in steady condition.
• Matina River along Brgy. Matina Biao is still monitored at Code Orange(Warning Level) and subsiding.

The rest of the river channels are monitored within safe or normal levels.

Widespread rains continue to hit parts of Mindanao due to the Low Pressure Area (LPA), according to weather bureau PAGASA.

The LPA was last seen 90 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte as of 3 p.m.

The LPA is forecast to bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms in the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte and cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, MIMAROPA, Quezon, and the rest of Caraga and Visayas.

Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the reported death toll due to the inclement weather since January 2 rose to 17. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News