DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 31 January)— A total of 394 families or 1,411 individuals in the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental have been affected by the trough of the low pressure area (LPA) which brings in rains in several parts of Mindanao, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao.
Rescuers in Mati City. Photo from the Facebook page of the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental
Franz Irag, OCD-Davao information officer, said that as of 11:30 a.m., out of the total, 288 families or 1,241 individuals are from the towns of Compostela, Monkayo, and New Bataan in Davao de Oro while 106 families or 170 individuals are from Cateel, Caraga, and Boston in Davao Oriental.
He reported that the LPA has displaced 293 individuals in Davao de Oro and 170 individuals in Davao Oriental who are currently staying in evacuation centers.
Irag added that flooding and landslide incidents reported were due to the incessant rain. A total of 15 15 barangays, he said, were flooded and 12 barangays affected by landslides in the two provinces.
Six roads in the two provinces are currently not passable to vehicles due to flooding and landslides, he said.
Landslide in Barangay Mainit along the road going to Barangay Panoraon in Maco, Davao de Oro. Photo from the Facebook page of the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro
Irag said power interruptions affected some barangays but electricity was immediately restored.
In the Davao Region, 44 local government units (LGUs) declared class suspensions and 22 declared work suspensions.
Irag said there are no reported casualties due to the LPA.
Based on the advisory released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 11 a.m., the trough of the LPA “may bring significant amounts of rains within the next three days.”
The agency that warned areas within Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Davao will continue to receive heavy rains until Thursday and the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi on Friday.
PAGASA warned residents of flooding and rain-induced landslides.
“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” it said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
