BACOLOD CITY – Residents fled their homes as flashfloods inundated Cadiz City and Manapla, Negros Occidental on Sunday night, Dec. 22.
THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Negros Occidental Bacolod City Chapter Emergency Response Unit and Ambulance Team rescue flooded residents in Villa Sagrado Housing, Barangay Burgos, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on Dec. 23. (Photo courtesy of PRC-Negros Occidental Bacolod City Chapter)
A total of 1,700 residents were rescued in five barangays in Cadiz City due to more than four hours of rain from tropical depression “Romina” and the shearline.
The Cadiz City Risk Reduction and Management Office said that 1,200 residents were affected in Barangay Burgos, 200 in Barangay Luna, 210 in Barangay Andres Bonifacio, and 60 each in Barangays Mabini and Daga.
Hardest hit were residents in Villa Sagrado, Sitio Uso, Barangay Burgos. Flooding reached the roof of their houses and stayed there until they were rescued around midnight.
Three bridges in the city were impassable around midnight due to floodwater – Uso Bridge in Burgos and Umapoy and Troso in Barangay Daga.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. was saddened by the unexpected calamity that occurred three days before Christmas.
He said that the CDRRMO and the City Social Welfare and Development Office are now on top of the situation.
"We are addressing now all the needs of our evacuees, especially food, but we are hoping that flood waters will subside faster this day so they can go back to their respective homes as soon as possible," the mayor said.
The adjacent town of Manapla was also severely hit by flashfloods. No figures have been reported as of posting time.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod deployed personnel to help in the rescue of displaced residents in Manapla and Cadiz City.
In Victorias City, Mayor Javier Benitez said that heavy rainfall and flooding affected 10 families or 37 individuals from Barangays 6, 7, and 21.
Benitez said that floodwater has completely subsided as of 1:30 a.m. on Monday and most of the affected families have returned home.
He thanked the City Social Welfare and Development, rescue teams, and volunteers who stepped up to help. Benitez said that their quick response and dedication ensured the safety of the people.
The city government assured families with damaged homes that they will be provided support.