DAVAO CITY (February 23) β Days of relentless rain turned deadly Friday as landslides buried homes and floods swallowed low-lying communities across the Davao Region, leaving eight people dead.
The Department of Social Welfare and DevelopmentβDavao Region (DSWD-11) confirmed Saturday that moderate to heavy rains triggered by a shear line weather system caused fatal landslides in Mati City and parts of Davao de Oro.
Four of the fatalities were reported in Barangay Central, Mati City. Three died in Monkayo town, while another was killed in Barangay Napnapan in Pantukan, both in Davao de Oro.
As of 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the stormβs toll had widened: 23,994 families β or 94,155 individuals β were affected as rivers overflowed and creeks surged into communities.
In some areas, residents scrambled to higher ground as floodwaters rose quickly. βThe water came so fast,β a barangay volunteer in Monkayo said. βWe were warning people house to house while it was still raining.β
Open evacuation centers across the region are now sheltering displaced families. DSWD-11 reported releasing β±824,600 worth of food and non-food assistance to help those who fled their homes.
Local government units, through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, continue damage assessments as rain-soaked hillsides remain unstable.
Weather disturbances caused by shear lines β where cold and warm air masses meet β often bring prolonged rainfall, raising the risk of landslides in mountainous and mining areas common in the region.
Authorities are urging residents in landslide- and flood-prone zones to remain alert as saturated ground conditions could still trigger more collapses.
