Heavy rains swamp Davao City

DAVAO CITY — Floods hit major parts of the city after hours of torrential rains that started Monday night. The City Disaster Risk Response and Disaster Management Office (CDRRMO) said floods hit parts of Matina Aplaya, Matina Crossing, Matina Pangi, Malagamot in Panacan, Mandug, Bangkal, Catalunan Grande, Ilang, Bangkal, and Bunawan.

As of Tuesday morning, the CDRRMO listed 295 families affected by the flood.

At the Matina Crossing Barangay Hall, the Barangay Disaster Council listed 164 families which were affected by the floods. Among these were some families living at the Arroyo Compound in Matina Pangi.

The City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) was checking reports that at least seven houses were totally damaged in San Isidro Village and the Lower Arroyo compound.

Vehicles were also stalled on the streets Monday night, while no public utility vehicle (PUV) dared cross the Balusong Bridge around midnight for fear that waters from the Davao river will flow onto the MacArthur Highway.

CDRRMO reports said water levels were waist-high in areas like Barangay 19 and Bucana, where there were also reports of residents who refused to evacuate.

Barangay officials evacuated the Arroyo Compound in Barangay Matina Pangi, while the barangays in Bangkal such as NHA and Central Park were also flooded.

Heavy flooding also blocked the road in Bunawan, with roads closed in the area until noon, Tuesday.

As of Tuesday morning, only heavy vehicles were allowed to pass through Bunawan.

The local government established evacuation areas in the Samantha Homes Gym and Barangay Hall, with similar responses for other areas.

As of noon, the local government has yet to release a casualty list, although at least one responder from Barangay Matina Crossing reportedly suffered minor wounds during a rescue operation.

According to the Barangay Disaster Risk Response and Management Council of Matina Crossing, there were around 160 families who were evacuated to the barangay hall.