FIVE barangays were affected and 214 families were evacuated as a result of severe flooding in the northern Cebu town of Sogod on Monday night, Oct. 25, 2021.
The affected families were evacuated to the church of the St. James the Apostle Parish, while others took refuge in the barangay hall and the health center which have currently been turned into evacuation centers.
Police Corporal Jose Rostel Hortelano of the Sogod Police Station told Superbalita Cebu that Sitio San Lorenzo, Barangay Poblacion is estimated to be neck-deep in floodwater. The sitio was severely affected as it is low-lying.
In other barangays that were flooded, like Bagatayam, Damolog, Bawo and Ibabao, the floodwater was knee-deep.
Hortelano said a tornado had hit the mountain.
Sogod Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Helen Zamora said 214 families from five villages had been affected.
The rain started at 3 p.m. on Monday and escalated into torrents from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The floodwaters then rose quickly as the tornado struck.
Four houses were swept away by the flood, but no one was reported injured.