Several families displaced by floods in Sibonga

AT least some of the 80 families living near the Sta. Felomina River in Barangay Poblacion, Sibonga town left their houses after they were asked to evacuate the area when the river overflowed after an hour-long heavy downpour that started at past 3 p.m. yesterday.

Damiano Osqueria, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) head, said in a phone interview that the river overflowed and caused knee-deep floods in nearby areas.

Osqueria said the displaced families temporarily stayed on higher ground along the highway as they waited for the water to subside.

Osqueria said that classes in Sibonga Elementary School and Sibonga National High School were also suspended.

Even though the residents already went back to their houses, Osqueria said they were still preparing the schools to accommodate evacuees in case the river would overflow again.

Osqueria said there was no reported waterspout in the town. “Kusog ra ang hangin ug uwan pero walay buhawi nga gi-report diri (There was heavy downpour and strong wind, but no waterspout was reported),” Osqueria said.