By Zea Capistrano
DAVAO CITY - Over 200 families were forced to evacuate here Wednesday night due to increasing water levels in the Davao river and its tributaries.
Residents in at least nine barangays here last night, particularly those living along the Davao River were advised by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to conduct preemptive evacuation due to possible flooding brought about by moderate to heavy rains.
The siren located at the City Hall Annex was sounded at 10:42 p.m. to alarm residents in Barangays 1-A, 2-A, 40-D, and 76-A to conduct forced evacuation. Residents in flood-prone areas in Barangays Bunawan, Maa, Mandug, Tigatto, and Callawa were also told to conduct forced evacuation after Bunawan River was placed under Orange Level or Warning Level.
Davao City Police Office Director Alexander Tagum said 215 families were evacuated, including 58 families with 85 individuals in Barangay 5-A; 47 families with 300 individuals who sought temporary shelter at Doña Pilar Elementary School; and 110 families with 420 individuals in Barangay Maa.
The CDRRMO said as of 4:41 a.m. on Thursday, January 24, the water level of the Davao River is currently subsiding but maintained its strong current. It advised residents who have evacuated to await further notice before returning to their homes.
Based on Pagasa's latest Thunderstorm Advisory issued at 3:50 a.m. on Thursday, all thunderstorm advisories in Mindanao have been lifted.