City flooded
SUBDIVISIONS in Davao City submerged in water following heavy downpour from midnight till morning.
Based on the situational report provided by Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office operations officer Rodrigo Bustillo, as of 12:35 p.m. yesterday, there was no reported individuals who were evacuated.
All the rivers were also at normal level, but water level kept on rising by morning and subsided only at around noon.
Among the affected areas in the city are are Barangay Panacan (San Miguel Church, Pizzaro Village, Doña Mercedez, Don Ramon Village Purok 22 and Purok 25 Malagamot); Buhangin (Laverna Hills Subdivision, St. Jude, San Vicente, Zone 5); Mamay Village, St. Mary Street, Angliongto; Davao Empress Subdivision, Barangay Sasa and; Belisario Heights Subdivision, Lanang.
At the lowest portion of Belisario Heights, a posh residential area, water was at neck-level.
Floodwaters in Panacan also reached waisthigh. Bustillo said that the flooding was aggravated due to the obstruction of waterways through modification by private business that includes an oil company located in barangay.
"The situation caused outrage by affected community prompting them to block the company premises entrance and de-
mand restoration on the natural waterways to prevent flooding in the future," Bustillo said.
A rescue operation was launched by Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) 911 rescuers with the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Task Force Davao, volunteers and other responders.
There was no report of casualties, based on their report.
The state weather bureau issued a Thunderstorm Advisory No.6 at: 2:20 a.m. whrerein heavy rains with lightning and strong winds due to thunderstorms are being experienced over portions of Davao City.
Also affected are Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga City, Davao del Sur (Digos, Hagonoy, Padada, Matanao, Kiblawan, Magsaysay, Bansalan), Compostela Valley (Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, Monkayo), Davao Oriental (Boston, Banaybanay, Lupon), DavaodelNorte (Carmen, Panabo, New Corella, Samal), Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte (Claver, Gigaquit, Bacuag, Malimono, Placer, Tagana-An, Surigao City), Dinagat Islands, Siargao Island, Agusan del Sur and nearby areas.
"All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards which include flashfloods and landslides. Keep monitoring for updates," the advisory read.
Renato Roxas Jr., one of the stranded commuters said that the sudden rain which prompted an ankle-deep flood have caused a major traffic build up in Panacan highway. Because of it, he came to his work late after the road turned impassable to vehicles due to floods.
On one hand, Menrose Añasco, called on the government to take a look on their wooden bridge which is made of bamboo trees after it was wrecked by the strong current of flood in Communal, Buhangin.