Floods kill 2, displace 40 families

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Two people died in separate drowning incidents in North Cotabato when floods hit several areas in the province after heavy rainfall on Monday.

In Carmen town where the Malitubog-Maridagao River is located, a 32-year-old militia man identified as Noel Hiso drowned when he tried to cross the river Monday afternoon.

His bloated body was found Tuesday morning in Barangay Kibenis, a low-lying village in Carmen.

In Magpet, a hinterland town in North Cotabato, a farmer identified as Paulino Canja, 57, also drowned and died when he tried to cross Tuael River, one of the province's longest rivers, around 10 p.m. on Monday.

His body was found floating along Binay River in Barangay Binay, also in Magpet town around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

In President Roxas, several houses in Poblacion and other upland villages were washed out by strong flood waters.

Several hectares of lands planted with corn, rice, and vegetables were damaged, said Poblacion village chief Mario Calayco.

Calayco said they heard boulders coming from the mountains after heavy rains.

When Calayco surveyed the area the next day, he was surprised to see boulders blocked the highway and damaged rice and corn fields in low-lying areas.

He, however, failed to cite the amount of damage to crops and infrastructure in his village.

In Davao del Sur, at least 40 families from three towns evacuated to safer grounds when floods hit their villages, Monday. Affected towns included Magsaysay, Matan-ao, and Bansalan.

Reports said the flood victims were forced to vacate their houses when waters from Bulatucan River in nearby Makilala town in North Cotabato rose to as high as 10 feet.

Disaster teams from Davao del Sur and North Cotabato provinces have begun preparing food and other relief items to be distributed to flood victims.