Floods sweep away bridges, trigger landslides in Davao Region

Continuous heavy rains due to the trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) triggered widespread floods across the Davao Region, Jandi Esteban reported Thursday on 24 Oras. 

In Davao Oriental, the massive floods damaged bridges in some areas, causing delays to ongoing relief operations. Floods also swept away houses and caused landslides in the province. 

“As of now maraming impassable roads. Maraming additional bridges na naputol. Isa din yan sa mga nagpapahirap sa amin especially sa pagdala ng mga relief,” said Governor Niño Uy. 

Latest data from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region 11 showed more than 1,300 families have been affected by the adverse weather in Davao Oriental. 

Meanwhile, a landslide in the town of Maragusan in Davao de Oro resulted in the deaths of three people, including a 12-year-old. Authorities are also searching for a man who went missing in floodwaters. 

In Davao City, more than 8,000 residents from 15 barangays were rescued after the Davao River overflowed, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO).

Panabo City in Davao del Norte was placed under a state of calamity.

Weather bureau PAGASA reported in its 4 p.m. bulletin that the trough of the LPA will continue to affect parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms is expected to prevail over Mindanao, Central Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Southern Leyte due to the trough of the LPA.

The Amihan will bring cloudy skies with light rains over Aurora, Quezon, and the Bicol Region. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

The rest of the Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms because of the combined effects of the LPA and localized thunderstorms.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News