By Danilo E. Doguiles
KORONADAL CITY, June 13 (PIA) -- Two persons died and at least 3,154 families were affected by flashfloods brought about by the recent spate of rains that affected a large part of Soccsksargen Region.
In a report this morning, Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that 568 families in Barangays Pangyan, Big Margus ,and Cross in Glan town, Sarangani were affected by flashfloods at around 6:00 a.m. yesterday, June 12.
Two persons died in the incident. The PDRRMO report identified the fatalities as Segapo Cabegdeng, 63, of Barangay Cross and Rolando Mata, 40, a fisherman from Calumpang, General Santos City, who both died of drowning.
According to the report , Brgy. Cross sustained the most damage with 139 houses totally washed out and 111 other sustaining partial damages. Twelve houses in Big Margus as well as 7 in Cross were totally wrecked.
Ben Solarte, PDRRMO head of Sarangani, said Gov. Migs Dominguez and Mayor Tata Yap have already sent teams to the affected to distribute emergency food assistance because belongings and food items of the affected families were soaked in water and mud.
At around 9:00 p.m. last June 11, Monday, Barangays Obial, Sta. Clara Hinalaan, and Himulan in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat province were also flooded.
The flashflood, according to a report of Kalamansig MDRRMO, affected at least 2,460 families who were evacuated to a safer area. Only two houses were washed out by the flood.
No fatality was recorded but two bridges were left impassable.
The same report cited that the flashflood could have wrought more damage to life and property if the Emergency Warning System (EWS) of Barangay Sta. Clara were not activated early by its barangay DRRRC.
Evacuated families have already returned to their homes but were advised to be always on alert since rains are expected to continue.
In Kidapawan City North Cotabato, three houses in Lapu-Lapu St., Poblacion were washed out when Nuangan River overflowed around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.
Fifty other houses from Cotelco Village, Perez St. Dawn’s Café were affected by flood waters when rivers and canals in the area. Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unit (KidCeru) with the Philippine Red Cross, 505 DREAM Rescue Team and the Philippine National Police immediately conducted rescue operations to bring the residents to safety.
Psalmer Bernalte of the KidCeru said more than two hours of rain caused Nuangan River, Saguing River, and Marbol River overrun their banks.
According to the NDRRMC update on the Kidapawan flooding incident, the number of families affected reached 126.
In an interview this morning, Dennis Domingo II, information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 12, confirmed that initial assistance have been sent to the families affected by the recent incidents. Additional assistance may follow depending on the need of the local government units concerned. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)