Heavy rains cause floods, landslides on Christmas eve

Nightmare came before Christmas for some families in parts of Luzon and the Visayas after their homes were submerged in floodwaters due to heavy rains.

According to a "24 Oras" report by JP Soriano on Tuesday, large boulders blocked roads in Barangay Dumalan in Dalaguete, Cebu.

The landslide was caused by the softening of the soil due to the continuous rain.

The road was closed to motorists bound for Argao for several hours while a clearing operation was conducted in the area.

Several houses in Eastern and Northern Samar were also in deep floodwaters.

Severe flooding due to heavy rainfall was also experienced in Lopez, Quezon.

The National Highway in Najuan, Oriental Mindoro also experienced flooding after a river overflowed as a result of a broken embankment.

In Baco, Oriental Mindoro, several residents may experience flooding until the New Year, prompting the municipality to declare a state of calamity.

“Halos lahat ng barangay ay apektado ng baha dahil dito sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-ulan. Kung tatanungin [kung] ilan ‘yung talagang affected [ng] pinakamalala tulad ng nakikita niyo, siguro ay may 15 barangay. Humingi tayo ng tulong sa Sangguniang Bayan na ideklara na ang Bayan ng Baco ay nasa State of Calamity,” said Mayor Allan Roldan.

The local government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development had already distributed assistance to affected residents.

Red Cross volunteers conducted rescue operations for residents trapped in rooftops due to raging floods.

Similar operations were conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard in some areas of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

Meanwhile, landslides in Natonin, Mountain Province have caused power outages in some areas. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News