Over 11k families in Maguindanao del Sur affected by floods

At least 11,395 families are affected in Maguindanao del Sur due to massive flooding, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

In a 24 Oras report by Jestoni Jumamil of GMA Regional TV on Tuesday, about 300 families in the town of Pagalungan are temporarily staying in a public market that has been turned into a temporary evacuation site.

Access to the the municipal hall, police station and school are hampered by floodwater.

Residents are calling for help in the form of rice, tarpaulin and tents as some of them have been forced to live on the side of roads because their houses are still flooded.

Residents in Datu Montawal are also sleeping roadside of the road with their meager belongings and their pets.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Maguindanao del Sur, there are 68,553 families residing in the flood-stricken areas with damage assessment is still ongoing.

In some parts of Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City, the flood reached neck-deep high, and several fishing vessels also ran aground on the coast of Barangay Cawit.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Pamucutan, a landslide buried two houses and its occupants.

Carmelita Moret was lucky to survive with her daughter but her husband and ten-year old son died.

According to the Zamboanga City - DRRMO, six people have perished due to the effects of the adverse weather conditions.

“Ginagawa namin ngayon ang lahat. We will have to address this together with the Sangguniang Panglungsod. Kung maaari gumawa ng ordinansa na i-relocate natin sila,” said Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, ZCDRRMO Head said.

(We are doing everything we can. We will have to address this together with the city government, if possible, we will create an ordinance that will relocate them.) —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News