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Saturday, December 29, 2007
Floods in Bukidnon damage crops, displace families
By Danilo V. Adorador III
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Flashfloods displaced families and destroyed farm and animal products in some areas in Bukidnon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Northern Mindanao said Friday.
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Driven by torrential rains, flashfloods hit Malaybalay City hard, and also affected Valencia City and Lantapan town damaging 10 houses including crops and livestock worth P2 million, the OCD reported.
There were no reports of any drowning victims, but the Malaybalay City Police Office said a lot of farm and domestic animals have drowned.
As a result, traffic congestion was prevalent in the late hours of Thursday evening, with routes leading to and from Malaybalay City as well as Cagayan de Oro and Davao clogged due to floodwaters.
The OCD report added that as many as 250 families or around 1,000 residents were affected in Malaybalay alone, while figures from other areas are being assessed as of this writing Friday.
In Malaybalay City, residents from at least two villages were reported to have experienced strong whirlwind Thursday evening. A strong gush of water followed that swept houses made of light materials, a resident told ABS-CBN Northern Mindanao.
Last month, wind-whipped waves wiped out homes and crops in several coastal towns of Misamis Oriental, displacing thousands of residents.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) meanwhile urged residents living on flashflood areas to do the following precautionary measures:
* Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding.
* Do not attempt to cross rivers of flowing streams where water is above the knee.
* Beware of water-covered roads and bridges.
* Do not go swimming or boating in swollen rivers.
* Eat only well-cooked food. Protect leftover against contamination.
* Drink clean or preferably boiled water only.
After the flood, the NDCC advises the public to observe the following:
* Re-enter dwellings with caution using flashlights, not lanterns or torches. There may be flammable materials inside.
* Be alert of fire hazards like broken wires.
* Do not eat food or drink water until they have been checked for floodwater contamination.
* Report broken utility lines (electricity, water, gas, and telephone) to appropriate agencies/authorities.
* Do not turn on the main switch or use appliances and other equipment until they have been checked by a competent electrician.
* If necessary, consult health authorities for immunization requirements.
* Do not go "sight-seeing" in disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (December 29, 2007 issue)
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