DAVAO CITY – Massive flood due to heavy rain has affected 9,200 families or 45,000 people in low-lying towns in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), an initial report from the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (Bangsamoro READi) Thursday said.

Several local government units in the region have suspended classes and work.

Bangsamoro READi said that heavy rain from the southwest monsoon or ''habagat'' spawned flooding in different parts of the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Reports of flooding and evacuation have been circulating on social media since Wednesday night.

Bangsamoro READi said that affected towns were Ampatuan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Guindulungan, and Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao del Sur.

Sultan sa Barongis had the highest number of affected families with 4,825, followed by Guindulungan with 3,138, and 930 in Ampatuan.

The number of families affected in Datu Saudi Ampatuan is yet to be determined as validation is still ongoing.

Also affected was the town of Parang in Maguindanao del Norte, where flash flood has affected an initial 400 families with validation ongoing.

Flooding was caused by the swelling of rivers from continuous rains since Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, portions of the Cotabato-Isulan Highway were closed to traffic due to flooding, particularly in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Guindulungan, and Talayan. But at 12 noon, the highway was passable to all types of vehicles.

Several Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in affected provinces have reported rescue operations in flooded barangays.

Bangsamoro READi reported that the provincial governments of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur have suspended classes due to continuous rains.

The towns of Kapalawan, Ligawasan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Pahamudin, and Tugunan have also implemented the measure. Most of these towns are known to be flood-prone due to its proximity to the Ligawasan Marsh and Pulangi River.