GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/11 September) – At least 15 families from two municipalities in South Cotabato lost their homes due to flashfloods and landslides that hit the area Friday night, an official of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) confirmed Saturday.
Nelida Pereira, Provincial Social Welfare and Development chief and PDCC coordinator, said the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils (MDCC) of Banga and Tupi towns reported that at least 11 houses were swept by flashfloods while four others were buried by landslides at the height of the heavy rains in the area late Friday.
In Tupi town, she said the flashfloods submerged portions of Puroks 1 and 9 in Barangay Poblacion and destroyed four houses near a creek in Sitio Tucalabong in Barangay Crossing Rubber.
Periera said there were no immediate reports of casualties from the area.
In Banga town, she said MDCC action officer Venus Montano reported that at least four houses were buried by a landslide near a creek in Sitio Katipunan of Barangay El Nonok on Friday night.
Periera said the landslide was reportedly triggered by a flashflood that also destroyed seven other houses.
“It was fortunate that the occupants of the four houses have already left when the landslide happened,” she said.
Bing Reyes, chair of Barangay El Nonok, said at least 30 families from Sitio Katipunan have evacuated Friday night as a result of the flashfloods and landslides that hit the area.
He said the evacuees are currently taking temporary shelter at the village’s multi-purpose building and a chapel.
“We’re trying to find a temporary relocation for them because it’s not yet safe to return to the area,” Reyes said in an interview over Bombo Radyo Koronadal.
Joel Dimput, a staff member of the office of South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr., said they initially sent some food supplies and relief items to the affected residents.
“They’re all safe and secure right now. Our disaster personnel were now taking care of their other needs as directed by the governor,” he said. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)