DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported 850 households were affected by flooding that followed a thunderstorm on Monday night.
In a statement on Tuesday, the CDRRMO, through the City Information Office, said 250 households were affected by chest-level flood in Laverna Hills Subdivision, Barangay Cabantian, while 600 families evacuated to the Barangay Matina Crossing Gym.
Alfredo Baloran, head of the CDRRMO, said there were no casualties.
“The early warning and announcement to evacuate helped people get ready for eventualities. What we received last night are reports that some people refused to evacuate. There were people who did not evacuate until the water entered their homes,” Baloran said.
In a radio interview Tuesday, Barangay Cabantian chief Nilo Cabiles said the residents have returned to their homes and requested medicine against leptospirosis.
“They also need extra clothes and food which may be sent to the purok (sub-villages) leaders or the parish church,” he said.
The overflow of the Matina River also led to the evacuation of 600 residents of Matina Pangi and Matina Crossing.
Barangay Matina Crossing chief Joel Santes said flood mitigation measures are in place near the river area and some residents have constructed additional levels in houses.
The flooding also stranded hundreds of motorists along Roxas Avenue and J.P Laurel.
Baloran said it was due to more than one-meter “seawater rise in big rivers which backflowed”.
He reiterated his call to be more cautious as the La Niña weather pattern that causes above-average rainfall will be experienced until the first quarter of next year.
"People should prepare especially those who are living along the big rivers and the impact areas which are easily affected by the swelling of big rivers and those who are living near the creeks,” he said.