GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Over a dozen houses and fishing boats were damaged as huge waves hit several coastal villages in this city and parts of Sarangani province on Friday morning.
Authorities, however, reported no casualty as a result of these incidents, which came amid sporadic heavy rains in the area since Thursday night, triggered by tropical depression Marilyn.
The rains also caused flooding Friday morning in some low-lying communities and road networks in the city, especially in Barangays Baluan, Bula, San Isidro and Tambler.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera suspended classes from preschool to the secondary level in all private and public schools past 8 a.m. due to the inclement weather.
“This is to ensure the safety of our learners as we already monitored flooding in some areas due to the rains,” the mayor said in a radio interview.
In nearby Alabel town in Sarangani province, Mayor Vic Paul Salarda also issued the same declaration due to heavy rains.
As of noon Friday, at least 10 houses and a private pier were damaged in Barangays Dadiangas West and South due to the onslaught of the huge waves.
Edgar Acharon, Dadiangas West barangay chairman, said hardest hit were the seaside communities of Puroks Tinago, San Vicente, Silway San Roque and Silway San Juan.
He said the affected families are now taking temporary shelter at a community covered court.
“The assessment is still ongoing so it’s possible that more houses were affected in other areas,” Acharon said in an interview.
He said the mayor, who personally inspected the affected areas, ordered the release of food packs and other relief assistance to the displaced families.
In Sarangani, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said a still undetermined number of fishing boats docked near the shores of Barangay Kablacan, Maasim town were damaged by strong waves.
Rene Punzalan, PDRRMO chief, said a house in Maitum town was also damaged by a felled tree.
“This is just our initial monitoring as we’re still waiting for the reports from the municipalities,” he said
