RESIDENTS cross a flooded road on Monday evening in Maasim, Sarangani. (Maasim Information Office)
DAVAO CITY – Residents of the coastal municipality of Maasim in Saragani province were stunned by the first-ever flashflood in the town on Monday afternoon, Oct. 6.
In a phone interview, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel Arsen Kamal said that the flash flood caught residents off guard.
Videos of the flashflood circulated on social media showed raging water on the national highway in the town proper around 3:40 p.m.
Residents and motorists scampered for safety as flood water rushed on the road.
Kamal said the flash flood was triggered by the swelling of the Tinago River amid heavy rainfall.
Initial reports showed that the flash flood injured three persons and totally and partially damaged five and 80 houses.
Kamal added that the highway was closed to traffic from 3:40 p.m. until around 8 p.m. due to debris.
Hundreds of commuters and motorists were stranded.
"Around 5 p.m., some residents were allowed to cross the flooded road assisted by emergency responders. But the vehicles were not yet allowed to pass due to debris," Kamal said.
The Maasim Information Office said that the highway was passable to all types of vehicles at 8:50 p.m. Monday.
Maasim is one the coast towns of Saragani. Its national highway links General Santos City and the coastal towns of Sultan Kudarat province.