South Cotabato heightens flood alert following 3 deaths

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Updated 11:50 a.m.) – South Cotabato officials raised the alert level for communities situated along the province’s critical rivers and tributaries following a flash flood in a major river in T’boli town over the weekend that left three people dead.

Isidro Janita, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, said Monday they issued an advisory directing the municipal and barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils to closely monitor the water levels of rivers and tributaries in the wake of the continuing rains in the area.

On Saturday afternoon, a flash flood hit a portion of the Sapali River in T’boli town, drowning three residents of Purok Everlasting in Barangay Sinolon.

Norberto Lapastora, T’boli municipal administrator, identified the victims as Jocelyn Gulac, 23; Jasmin Gulac, 12; and Maricel Buhale, 13.

He said the victims were washing clothes along the Sapali River when they were swept by a flash flood around 4 p.m. Saturday.

The remains of the three victims were later recovered by local rescuers at a portion of the river in Barangay Lamsugod in nearby Surallah town.

“The river’s water level initially rose and rushing floodwaters suddenly came,” he said.

The official said their initial investigation showed that flash floods were triggered by landslides at the upper portion of the river that came following the sporadic heavy rains in the area since Friday.

Janita said they initially conducted a damage analysis and needs assessment to address the impact of the incident and the immediate needs of the affected residents.

He said the Provincial Government will immediately release relief goods and financial assistance to the families of the three victims.

As a result of the incident, Janita said they have directed municipal and barangay officials to clear residents off the banks of major rivers and tributaries in the area.

He said they also advised them to keep their disaster response teams on alert and evacuate residents to safer areas when necessary.

The weather bureau, meanwhile, said on Monday Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

It said light southwesterly to variable winds will prevail over Mindanao and its coastal waters will be slight except during thunderstorms.

It also said a tropical depression near the Philippine Area of Responsibility was monitored and is expected to enter the country within 24 hours.

“As of now may namonitor tayo na bagyo nasa northern part malapit sa PAR pero kung papasok ito, dadaplisan lang niya ‘yung bansa para lang si’ ‘Carina’ at tutungo itong papunta Japan (As of now, we monitor a tropical depression in northern part near the PAR and will just passed over just like Tropical Storm Carina, it will just skim the country and will be headed to Japan),” weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said.

At least 20 storms are expected to lash the Philippines during the current rainy season. (PNA/Sunnex)