Bad weather displaces 2,000 people in Davao

MANILA, Philippines - More than 2,000 people in the Davao region have been evacuated due to flooding caused by the intertropical convergence zone, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

In a report, the NDRRMC said the bad weather have displaced a total of 2,074 persons or 537 families in seven barangays in Compostela Valley, Monkayo, Davao Oriental and Governor Generoso.

The evacuees are now housed at municipal gymnasiums, grandstands, chapels and residential areas located in higher grounds.

“Downstream municipalities of Davao del Norte province namely Sto. Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen and low-lying areas of Tagum City are expected to be affected by flood if heavy rains continue,” NDRRMC said.

The municipal disaster management councils in Compostela Valley and Montevista have activated their incident command centers to monitor developments.

The intertropical convergence zone also caused moderate to heavy rains in the Caraga region.

Local disaster management officials reported the swelling of creeks, drainage canals and other waterways in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Some roads in Prosperidad town were also flooded but they remain passable to all types of vehicles.

Meanwhile, a landslide occurred along the national highway in barangay Nurcia in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur but the road remains passable.

In Lanao del Norte, about 50 commuters were affected by a flashflood that hit barangay Poblacion in Tubod town last Tuesday. No casualties were reported due to the incident.

NDRRMC said the local disaster management officials are continuously monitoring the situation in their respected areas.