PERSISTENT rains due to a weather condition known as a shear line flooded 13 barangays in the region and displaced residents, particularly in low-lying areas and near rivers.
A shear line is when cold winds (amihan) and warm winds (easterlies) intersect, causing strong rains and even thunderstorms.
As of 4 p.m. on Jan. 16, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) XI said the affected barangays included Doña Josefa and Aguinaldo in Laak, Sarmiento, New Bataan, Nueva Visayas, Bawani, Andili, Poblacion, Mawab, Magading, Nabunturan, and Maco, Davao de Oro.
Three reported landslides (rain-induced) were also experienced in Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan, Linda, Nabunturan, and Gubatan in Maco. Meanwhile, one scouring of a bridge was reported in Fatima, New Bataan, in Davao de Oro.
Around 336 families in Davao de Oro, 20 families in Davao Occidental, and 110 families in Davao Oriental took shelter at designated evacuation centers. However, OCD XI noted that these families already returned to their respective houses.
Among the bridges rendered impassable to all types of vehicles during the heavy rains were Trukat, Camanlangan, New Bataan (Nabunturan – Maragusan Road) Rizal, Monkayo (National Road) Sawangan, Mawab (National Road), Bahi, Maragusan (National Road).
A total of 27 municipalities declared class suspension, and 14 municipalities also declared work suspension.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development XI distributed 550 family food packs amounting to P328,625, and 60 packs of 5-kilogram rice amounting to P14,000 to the local government units in Caraga.
OCD XI said it “continuously monitored Davao region in coordination with Provincial, City, and Municipality Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMC), and Regional DRRMC XI member agencies.”
According to the Pagasa, rain showers will persist in Davao Region until Thursday, Jan. 18.
Photo courtesy of 60th Infantry (MEDIATOR) Battalion
