A LOCALIZED thunderstorm on Tuesday night caused heavy flooding in several areas of the city, affecting over 1093 families, the City Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) reported.
Alfredo Baloran, CDRRMO chief, reported that the flooded areas included Durian-A, Brgy. Baguio Proper, Crossing Quimpo Boulevard and Quirino Avenue, Brgy. 10-A, and Laverna Hills, Brgy. Cabantian. CDRRMO recorded knee-deep to waist-level water on the streets in these areas, causing major disruptions to residents and businesses.
In Cugan Creek, Brgy. Calinan Proper, the creek overflowed at Purok Abayon and subsided after two hours, forcing two individuals to evacuate to the barangay hall. Meanwhile, in Sasa Creek, Sto. Niño Riverside, Brgy. Sasa, 70 families comprising 250 individuals were forced to evacuate to Sto. Niño Chapel as the creek overflowed and subsided after two hours.
Allan Simo-ag, Lasang Barangay chair, declared an immediate suspension of classes to all levels in both public and private academic institutions on Feb. 22. The suspension came after 11 out of 16 Puroks were affected, impacting 1,531 families, with 371 evacuating and 1,013 individuals.
Several residents were also affected, such as those in El Rio Vista Village in Bacaca where rising water levels forced evacuations to the nearest covered court. Similarly, residents of Jade Valley in Buhangin were affected by the heavy rain, with water levels rising to near the roof of houses, the report said (accompanying photo shows personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office distributing food to families affected by the flood in Juliville Subdivision. The photo is courtesy of the Facebook page of the office).
In a Facebook post, a resident said: “The water level got higher when the rainwater came down from the mountains of Calinan District through the Davao River, located on the side of Jade Valley.” Motorists were also warned not to pass by Naboc bridge in Monkayo as the soil under the post was already eroded, making it unsafe for them.
Despite the damages caused by the flooding, CDRRMO assured the public that they were ready to respond to any emergency situation. “Our team is ready to assist those who are affected, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Baloran said.
