Floods displace thousands in Maguindanao del Sur

FLOODWATERS EVERYWHERE This aerial photo taken on Saturday shows the extent of the flooding that hit the town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur following intense rain spawned by the intertropical convergence zone.—OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE-BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION INMUSLIM MINDANAO

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Torrential rains spawned by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) that prevailed in Mindanao triggered flooding in three towns of Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday, displacing more than 30,000 residents, officials said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), reported on Sunday that a total of 6,023 households or some 30,115 individuals were affected by the flooding in the towns of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Shariff Aguak and Datu Saudi Ampatuan as of Saturday.

Also flooded was the town of Datu Salibo, which serves as a catch basin for floodwater from South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces. The water in these areas eventually flows toward the Maguindanao marshland.

READ: Rains seen in Palawan, Visayas, Mindanao; Luzon to sizzle

All the 17 villages of Datu Salibo were under water, with the number of affected residents still to be counted.

The majority of the affected villages have been perennially flooded due to their location in the Liguasan marshland, according to Joel Mamon, regional director of OCD-BARMM.

Mamon joined an aerial survey conducted by the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group 12 under Col. Caezar Pascua and the 6th Infantry Division public affairs office over flood-hit areas in Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday to determine the extent of damage in the affected localities.

Aside from displacing thousands of families in the affected towns, the OCD-BARMM also reported infrastructural damage, including a bridge in Barangay Bagumbong, Mamasapano town, which served as a vital link for transport and mobility in the area.

Agriculture damage

Hectares of farms planted to corn, rice, peanut and assorted crops in Datu Abdullah Sangki town were submerged in floodwaters although the Department of Agriculture has yet to assess the total cost of the damage.

Mamon said validation of the numbers of affected families and the total cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture were still ongoing.

In Sarangani province, the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council (MDRRMC) in Alabel town evacuated families in Barangay Baluntay on Sunday due to flash floods following a night of heavy downpour triggered by ITCZ.

The town’s rescue teams, along with barangay officials and volunteers, worked together to ensure the safety of affected families, according to the MDRRMC in Alabel.

Although no casualty was reported, authorities continued to monitor the weather conditions and reminded residents in flood-prone areas to be on alert and to be prepared for possible evacuation.

Temporary shelters have been put up and food packs and other basic needs were provided to the displaced persons, authorities said. /cb