Flash floods hit Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat towns after heavy downpour
COTABATO CITY – Moderate to heavy rains spawned by low pressure area over Mindanao triggered
flash floods in two Maguindanao towns Friday night, sending dozens of families
to higher grounds, disaster and emergency unit teams reported.
waters from the mountains of Shariff Aguak town flooded the town proper and the
lower village of Liab in adjacent Mamasapano town, both in Maguindanao.
Residents said
light to moderate but continuous rains from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight triggered
flash floods accompanied by medium size rocks and debris.
Residents hurriedly
fled to their relatives’ homes in the town’s higher portion as flood water
submerged their houses,” according to Majeed Andong, a civic group leader, quoting
a report from his comrades in Kabalikat Civicom radio group.
Motorists along
the Cotabato City-Isulan, Sultan Kudarat provincial highway zero visibility,
particularly in adjoining towns of Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay.
We are closely
monitoring the situation on the ground, we ready to rescue anytime should the
situation deteriorates,” Shariff Aguak town police chief, Inspector Armando
Liwan.
In Datu Unsay
town, also in Maguindanao,a car broke down in the middle of flooded bridge while another one was
figured in a highway mishap due to slippery road, reports from Humanitarian
Emergency Action Response Team of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM-HEART) said.
After hours of
rains, residents heard rampaging flood waters from the mountains heading toward
the town center.
No casualty
was reported as of posting.
sand//scontent.fmnl4-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/13521673_504362913100205_1974883521_n.png?oh=6aee733be170c65a4efbe380efca39ceandampoe=576F577C According to state
weather bureau’s forecast, a low pressure area (LPA) was sighted about 1,430
kilometers east of Mindanao. It is expected to develop into a tropical
depression and will enter Philippine Area of Responsibility within the next 12
hours.Meanwhile, low lying areas in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat were also submerged by flood water the past three days.Since June 22, classes have been suspended in Tinumigues Elementary School due to strong water current, according to Regional Association of Project Development Officers.Photo shows the extent of floods in Lambayong town. sand//scontent.fmnl4-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13522033_1186822114681733_8988113114235117159_n.jpg?oh=f4d47c6d4974a09e5ea9eb332263a0aeandampoe=5804EF4A sand//scontent.fmnl4-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13516171_1186822248015053_333554519729760965_n.jpg?oh=bb1971233427209878130d53486eddbdandampoe=57C1270A