7 killed, 18 missing in Southern Mindanao floods

DAVAO CITY — Seven people were killed, 18 others were reported missing and thousands of villagers were displaced in the flash floods that struck Davao City and other parts of Southern Mindanao due to torrential rains since Thursday night.

Two of the fatalities were residents of this city, while the rest hailed from other parts of the region.

Heavily affected in this city were residents along the Davao River — stretching from the far-flung barangay of Paquibato to the city proper, near Quimpo Boulevard — which swelled after days of unusually heavy rains.

The city council declared yesterday a state of calamity in the affected areas. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte himself spearheaded the rescue and relief operations.

"Our main task now is to save lives as we see the flooding to be massive," Duterte said.

Air Force helicopters and Coast Guard lifeboats have been working round-the-clock to evacuate flood victims.

Thousands of families have been evacuated to safer grounds, especially those residing at Jade Valley, Matina Crossing, Matina Gravahan, SIR Village, Gem Village, Don Julian Village, Bacaca and other low-lying areas.

Authorities identified the city’s two fatalities as King Balangtian, who reportedly drowned in Sitio Tigatto, Buhangin district, and Gonzales Ansayod, who was said to have been buried alive in a landslide in Paquibato.

Seven people were reported missing in the Paquibato landslide, while four children reportedly fell into rampaging waters after the Ma-a bridge along the Diversion Road collapsed Friday afternoon.

Elsewhere in Southern Mindanao, flash floods were also reported in at least 18 towns in Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental, affecting about 50,000 people, regional civil defense chief Carmelito Lupo said. — Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude