Davao Region. Map courtesy of Google
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 December) – The weather disturbance caused by an Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ has affected 887 families or 3,119 individuals in Davao Region, the Office of Civil Defense Region 11 said in a report Friday.
According to a report released by the OCD-Davao, 877 families or 3,069 individuals were affected in Barangays Lais, Mana, and Poblacion in Malita town, Davao Occidental, as of 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 27.
Of this number, 205 families or 903 individuals in were preemptively evacuated and temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers.
The agency, meanwhile, recorded 10 families or 50 individuals affected in Barangay Manikling, San Isidro town, Davao Oriental. They were also preemptively evacuated.
At 9:21 p.m. on Thursday, OCD-11 said flooding and landslide incidents in some parts of Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental were reported.
Preemptive and forced evacuation was immediately enforced in the affected barangays, and families were immediately provided relief assistance.
As of 6:00 a.m. on Friday, OCD-11 reported that the flood had started to subside in these barangays.
Lais Bridge along the Davao-Sarangani Coastal Road in Malita was damaged and is currently not passable to vehicles, it said.
The agency added it is continuously monitoring the affected areas for possible augmentation of response teams and distribution of relief assistance.
In its 11:00 a.m. advisory on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the shear line was expected to bring heavy to intense rainfall in Cagayan and “moderate to heavy rainfall” in Isabela, Apayao, Palawan, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Sarangani from Friday to Saturday.
Moderate to heavy rainfall may be expected in Cagayan, Apayao, Isabela, Palawan, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental Saturday noon to Sunday noon, and moderate to heavy rainfall in Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Palawan from Sunday noon to Monday noon.
PAGASA warned areas expecting heavy to intense rainfall of numerous flooding events, especially those that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslides are likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas.
For areas with a moderate to heavy rainfall forecast, localized flooding is possible mainly in those that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers, while landslides are possible in highly susceptible areas. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
