Heavy rains caused by the prevailing shear line triggered flooding and a landslide in parts of Mindanao early Friday, February 20, prompting the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to place its chapters on heightened alert and deploy emergency response teams.

In a statement, the PRC said its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Richard J. Gordon, ordered continuous monitoring and rapid response operations in affected areas, particularly in Surigao del Sur, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental, where communities were hit by rising floodwaters and a deadly landslide.

“We do not wait for disasters to overwhelm our people,” Gordon said. “We prepare, we anticipate, and we act swiftly,” he added.

In Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, flooding reached waist- to chest-deep levels in several communities, forcing residents to evacuate to safety.

PRC volunteers, including RC 143 community responders, assisted families as floodwaters rapidly rose, helping move residents to safer evacuation areas.

The organization said its local chapter immediately activated emergency protocols to ensure affected families received prompt support.

In Barangay Rizal, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, a landslide claimed the lives of three individuals, according to Red Cross emergency teams deployed to the area.

Search and rescue units retrieved the fatalities, while authorities continued to assess ground conditions to ensure the safety of residents and responders.

Flooding was also reported in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, where 14 residents were preemptively evacuated as a precaution.

Emergency Medical Services and search and rescue teams remain deployed in affected communities, with additional volunteers on standby.

On the ground, the PRC said its teams established welfare desks in evacuation centers to assist displaced families, including providing tracing services and humanitarian support.

“Our volunteers and response teams are trained to move at once to save lives, assist in evacuations, and provide relief to families in distress,” Gordon said. “The Philippine Red Cross will remain on the ground as long as our communities need us,” he added.

The Davao de Oro chapter has begun distributing hot meals to evacuees in Basak and Magsaysay evacuation centers. Hygiene promotion sessions have also been conducted, reaching at least 160 displaced individuals.

Supplies, equipment, and response vehicles have been prepositioned, while coordination with local disaster risk reduction and management offices continues.

PRC General Secretary Gwen Pang also assured the public that relief efforts are being intensified as damage assessments continue.

“Our chapters are fully mobilized, welfare desks are being set up to ensure families receive immediate assistance, and hot meals are being prepared and distributed in evacuation centers,” Pang said.

“We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that no affected family is left unattended,” she added.

Pang noted that the PRC continues to coordinate with local authorities to ensure affected communities receive timely support.

The PRC said it will remain on heightened alert as heavy rains continue and pledged to sustain response operations until all affected families are assisted.