Saturday, August 12, 2006
Huge waves hit coastal villages; thousands flee homes
By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
DAVAO CITY -- Monsoon waves pummeled Davao City's coastline anew and destroyed houses in various coastal barangays Friday morning, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
But the Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council (DCDCCC) could not give the exact number of houses damaged because some areas are still deluged by the breaking surf.
"We still could not give the exact number of destroyed and damaged houses because our teams are still in the areas. We also couldn't yet penetrate some of the areas because these are still underwater," Christina Villegas of the council said in an interview Friday.
At mid-afternoon Friday, the waters off Sta. Ana Pier looked perfect for surfing, and the seawater has not only flooded the pier area at knee-high level but has reached until just several feet short of Magsaysay Avenue. Tons of lumber pieces, either from some distant lumberyard or from coastal houses, were dumped by the waves on the pier.
Based on their initial record, the most affected part of the city were Barangay 23-C (Mini Forest and Isla Verde), 22, and 21-C at Piapi along Boulevard, 76-A at Bucana, Matina Aplaya, Talomo, Bago Aplaya, Dumoy, Daliao and Lizada in Toril.
She said they received information that two children were reported missing while an old man was hit by a house that collapsed at Isla Verde in Barangay 23-C.
But Villegas said they have yet to confirm this information.
"This is still unofficial information. We are still verifying this," Villegas said.
A visit to Isla Verde showed residents carrying as many personal belongings as they can, their things all lined up along the road, while others could not do anything but watch their houses being torn down and carried away by the waves.
Seawater also flooded the Zonta Elementary School and the mosque at Isla Verde.
In Purok 6 in Barangay Talomo, Villegas said, eight houses were washed away and four were damaged.
Sitios Kalubihan and Pantalan in Daliao have become a no man's land as the waves continue to pummel the shores threatening all those who dare stay around.
In Matina Aplaya, a total of 27 houses were battered by the rampaging waters prompting barangay chief Jimmy Poliquit to appeal to beach residents to leave immediately.
"Let's not wait for more dangers. Let's secure everything, especially our children," Poliquit told residents.
The water went up to the barangay's covered court forcing affected residents to find shelter at the Santo Domingo Elementary School in Matina Aplaya.
The City Social Services and Development Office, the lead agency in relief operations, also helped in the giving of assistance to the affected families. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(August 12, 2006 issue)
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