11 families evacuated

Continuous rains last Friday triggered a landslide that blocked a portion of the river in Sitio Sangi, Barangay Lower Becerril, Boljoon in southern Cebu.

No one was injured in the incident.

But 11 families affected were temporarily evacuated to the town's evacuation center, said Eutimio Ternate, the disaster officer designate (DOD).

The landslide reportedly blocked the water flow, creating a dam.

According to Wilson Linares, a resident of the said town, the middle area of the water is now around 40 meters deep.

Residents living along the river feared they could be washed away if the natural dam broke.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the river is getting deeper.

“Aduna'y artificial bombing nga nahitabo, ang volume sa tubig dako na ug ang kataason sa tubig mga eight to 10 meters na. Ang width sa sapa kay 30 meters ug iyaha length kay mga 10 kilometers siguro,” he said.

Mayor Merlou Derama said the town disaster team, in coordination with the PDRRMO, has been monitoring the area since last night to make sure that everything is under control.

Ternate said they are trying to remove the boulders, loosened soil, and debris from trees.

“Ang kadtong mga bato, ang mga kahoy, mga lubi nga nadala tungod sa nahitabo nga landslide. Karon na trap ni og nakahinungdan sa bara. Hinay na ang discharge sa tubig tungod lagi kay nabarahan ang sapa,” he said.

He said they are asking equipment from the province for the clearing operations.

“Ang atoang gibuhat sa pagkakaron atoang gihinayhinay og tanggal ang mga nakabara pero dili gyod ni madayon-dayon o madali unya gaplano ta nga atoang padak-an ni atoang nakita nga agian aron maka-discharge og tubig,” he said.

Tribunalo said he will deploy engineers to check and assess the area today.

“Padayon gihapon ang paghulog sa mga debris ug ang atoang ampo lang nga unta dili gyod mag-ulan. Delikado ni kay maka-cause ni og flashflood,” he said.

Ternate also hoped the weather won't turn bad or else it will make the situation even worse.

“We pray nga wala lang gyod kusog nga ulan o wala'y buhawi nga muabot kay madelikado unya ni ug maapektuhan gyod ang mga residente sa low-lying areas,” he said, adding that they are asking regular updates from the weather bureau.

He said residents in the sitio have already been informed about the situation.

As not to jeopardize the safety of the residents, Derame said, he already talked to the barangay captain and instructed him to urge those who live near the river to evacuate.

At least 30 families are reportedly affected.

“Atoa na sad giestorya ang kapitan didto, atoang giingnan nga hangyoon ug ingnan ang kadtong mga nagpuyo sa sapa dapit nga muhawa lang sa hangtod sa mohupa na ang tubig,” he said.