Floods, landslide damage 16 houses
Published on: Thursday, July 30, 2020
By: PNA
Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Koronadal City assist residents affected by a flash flood in Barangay San Isidro.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY: At least 16 houses were damaged while more than 200 families were temporarily displaced after flash floods and landslides hit several villages in Koronadal City, including portions of the main commercial centre, on Tuesday afternoon.Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena said Wednesday a major creek and tributaries traversing the city overflowed at past 4.30pm after more than two hours of heavy rains, submerging several lowland areas.
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Ogena said huge volumes of floodwaters coming from the upland villages caused the Bulok Creek, the city’s main natural waterway, to swell and cause heavy flooding in various housing communities, the city’s round ball area, old City Hall compound, and a portion of the main public market.
He said the floods specifically affected portions of barangays San Isidro, Zone 3, Zone 1, Mambucal, Sta. Cruz, and Gen. Paulino Santos.
A major landslide also hit a portion of Barangay Assumption, affecting at least two communities but no casualties were reported, Ogena said.
“There were recorded evacuations but most of the affected residents have already returned to their homes as of this morning,” he said in a radio interview.
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Ogena said in Barangay San Isidro, some 16 houses made of light materials were damaged by a flash flood that swept a community in puroks Urban Gamay and Daku, which are situated beside two converging creeks.
He said about 150 families were affected by the floods in the area and took temporary shelter at the barangay gymnasium on Tuesday night while two households remained in a daycare centre.
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Three classrooms of the Bacongco National High School in the same village were damaged after being hit by a fallen 30-year-old Acacia tree,
Ogena said, adding that three households were affected by the floods in Barangay Mambucal, 31 in three sites in Barangay Zone 3, and 33 more in Purok Magsaysay, Barangay Gen. Paulino Santos.
In Barangay Assumption, 46 families from Sitio Lower Ladol and Datal Pitak were evacuated to safer areas due to a landslide, which will reportedly “take about three days to clear,” he said.
Aside from these, Ogena said damage to crops and lost farm animals have been reported but the assessment was ongoing.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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