Flooding, landslides leave 8 dead in Mindanao

National

PROLONGED heavy rains caused by a shear line have triggered deadly landslides and widespread flooding across parts of Mindanao, leaving eight people dead and displacing thousands of families.

Franz Irag, operations officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Davao Region, confirmed in an Inquirer.net report that eight fatalities were recorded following several days of moderate to heavy rainfall.

According to Irag, the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental were among the hardest hit. At least 44 barangays experienced flooding, while 33 others were affected by landslides.

The reported deaths resulted from separate landslide incidents. A family of four perished in Upper Salazar, Barangay Central, Mati City, Davao Oriental, on February 19. Later that same day, at around 11:00 p.m., three individuals were killed in Barangay 5, Barangay Rizal, Monkayo, Davao de Oro. Another fatality was reported in Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

Data from the OCD showed that 20,892 families, or 84,208 individuals, were displaced due to flooding and landslides in the Davao Region. While 51 evacuation centers were opened across the region, only 1,169 families (3,929 individuals) are currently staying in these facilities. Others have sought temporary shelter with relatives and friends.

In response, local government units issued an executive order on Feb. 20 temporarily suspending all mining operations due to continuous heavy rains and the ongoing threat of landslides. Authorities also closed damaged roads, particularly in Maragusan town, where heavy vehicles were barred from passing after a landslide hit portions of the road between Barangay Katipunan (Bagsakan) and Buladan.

Clearing operations are ongoing in affected areas, including parts of Caraga and Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

In Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, more than 23,000 families were displaced by flooding, although many have begun returning home as floodwaters subsided. Meanwhile, in Agusan del Sur, heavy rains caused rivers within the Agusan Marsh to overflow, prompting forced evacuations.

Government agencies continue to conduct rescue, relief, and damage assessment operations.(Iah Jennil Mirarza, BiPSU Comm Intern)