Floodwaters force more than 150 persons to flee homes
Dark clouds hang low over Metro Cebu, a herald of the ensuing downpour that caused flooding in Cebu City’s main streets and in southern Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Major rivers overflowed after intense rain yesterday, forcing more than 150 persons to flee their homes in at least four barangays in Cebu and Talisay cities.
Two street children also had to be rescued under the bridge on Panganiban St. in Cebu City after the water level rose suddenly. They were brought to a hospital for check-up.
Three houses in barangay Candulawan in Talisay City were reportedly washed out. Four others were damaged in sitio Caduloy, barangay Tisa in Cebu City.
A foot bridge in White Road, barangay Inayawan in Cebu City was also destroyed.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who chairs the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said the emergency evacuation served as reminder for authorities to relocate residents living near rivers and under bridges.
He will call for an emergency meeting today to discuss his proposal for the forced relocation of families living along Kinalumsan and Guadalupe rivers. At least 30 families in Kinalumsan River and around 100 families along the stretch of the Guadalupe River will be affected.
“In our disaster council meeting, we will push through with the acquisition of a lot where the residents can be transferred to, especially those living near the rivers,” he said.
Tumulak said they will allocate P20 million from the city’s disaster funds for the purchase of a lot to be developed as relocation site.
Tumulak said the rivers that overflowed yesterday were Buhisan to Kinalumsan and Sapangdaku to Guadalupe.
Kinalumsan river runs from Buhisan towards Labangon, Tisa and Mambaling-Duljo area. The Guadalupe River runs from Sapangdaku to Pahina Central or Colon area going to Pasil.
Tumulak denied rumors that the Buhisan Dam was opened, causing the rivers to overflow.
“I sent somebody to verify the rumor that Buhisan was opened. It’s not true. MCWD would have announced it,” Tumulak said, referring to water distribution utility Metro Cebu Water District.
Rain first poured at around 4 p.m. but stopped after less than an hour. A thunderstorm started at around 5:30 p.m. and had not let up as of 8 p.m. yesterday.
The weather bureau said thunderstorms will continue in the afternoons this week because of an intertropical convergence zone. The public has been warned against possible flashfloods.
Tumulak said the Command Control Center (C3) in Cebu City was monitoring the different rivers in the city as the rain poured.
He said the Kinalumsan river near Cebu Institute of Technology-University overflowed, affecting parts of sitio Itik of Duljo and sitio Camansilis of Mambaling.
Some families in the affected areas had to destroy their roof to make their way up and be rescued because the area was already swamped.
As of last night, 109 individuals evacuated to Mambaling Sports Complex and 43 individuals from Tisa evacuated to Punta Princesa Sports Complex.
Tumulak said Tisa barangay captain Philip Zafra sought the help of Punta Princesa barangay captain Jose Navarro.
In Mambaling, barangay Captain Wilfredo Go said the evacuees came not just from his barangay but also from Duljo.
Go said Department of Social Welfare and Services chief Ester Concha ordered last night to deliver food packs for the evacuees.
Four other sitios in his barangay, namely, Tinabangay, Huyonghuyong, Lawis and Bayking were affected by minor flooding. The residents decided to just stay home.
Labangon was also affected based on photos posted by Junjun Alviar on his Facebook account.
In Talisay, city disaster officer Vince Monterde said three families were displaced after floodwaters from the Candulawan River swamped their houses.
The affected families are staying at the Candulawan Elementary School. They were given food packs last night.
Monterde also said the Candulawan barangay hall was at risk of collapsing. The barangay has been identified as prone to floods.