Flash Floods Displace 30,000 Persons in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat

Tacurong City (PNA) — The overnight heavy downpour that hit South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Wednesday has affected more than 30,000 persons, disaster officials Thursday said.

Three persons have been confirmed dead during a mudslide in the town of Tupi in South Cotabato. More than 20,000 persons have been displaced by flash floods triggered by an overnight heavy rain Wednesday in Sultan Kudarat, disaster officials said.

Koronadal City Mayor Fernando Miguel said about 2,000 families or about 10,000 individuals were affected by flood water that reached as high as neck level and vital bridge in the village of Namnama has weakened while the approach of Barangay Concepcion bridge was eaten up by rampaging waters, cutting the road network from the town center.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Fuentes said it was the first massive floods that hit the province in recent history.

Fuentes said a retaining wall of Banga river also collapsed, threatening vast rice fields and residential communities.

Classes were suspended in Koronadal City and the affected towns of Banga, Tupi, Tampakan and Norala.

The overnight down pour was followed by a day-long light to moderate rain, sending villagers in low lying communities of Sultan Kudarat moving to safer grounds, according to Henry Albano, Sultan Kudarat provincial risk reduction and management council action officer.

Flooded were the towns of Lutayan, Isulan, Lambayong, Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat and Tacurong City, affecting 4,630 individuals.

The floods that submerged Sultan Kudarat communities emanated from the mountain towns of Tampakan and Tupi in South Cotabato.

A bridge that linked Lutayan town to South Cotabato was damaged and rendered impassable. Public works engineers are working overnight to restore traffic flow using alternate routes.

Albano said the residents were caught unaware when the rivers overflowed at past 10 a.m. Wednesday and had little time to save valuables as flood water rose quickly.

Albano said the Kapingkong river that crossed the Isulan-Tacurong City highway overflowed and submerged residential areas on Wednesday afternoon.

Albano said several houses made of light materials were carried away by rampaging flood water while hundreds of hectares of rice fields were inundated.

Sultan Kudarat Rep. Raden Sakaluran said the most affected town was Lutayan after roads from the town center to Tacurong had been affected and rendered impassable for cargo trucks.

“A vital bridge showed some weaknesses, the strong water current has weakened the bridge foundation. So farmers could not bring agriculture products to the market unless the government creates an alternate route,” Sakaluran said.

Mayor Ruth Mangudadatu-Sakaluran said the local government is establishing alternate route even for light vehicles. Public works continue Thursday amid drizzle.

Albano said at past 8 p.m. Wednesday, the provincial engineering office personnel conducted forced evacuation of villagers living along the Isulan-Tacurong highway, particularly in Barangay Kenram.

Albano said nobody was hurt or died during the calamity. (PNA) FFC/NYP/EOF