Vinta aftermath: 6,614 families flee homes as flashflood hit Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Some  6,614 families or 31,375 individuals affected by flood here.

There no heavy downpour in the city area but Davao rivers started to swell afternoon Friday as rain waters from the neighboring provinces cascaded   after  tropical storm Vinta made a landfall in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

Davao was placed under storm signal no. 1.

The city government of Davao is asking private individuals or companies to drop their donations at the City Hall “To ensure that the items are distributed systematically and received by the validated victims.”

But for those who “Want to personally distribute your assistance, please coordinate with the people who manage the evacuation center so that your distribution may be done in an orderly manner.”

The city government identified eighteen  Evacuation centers namely:

• Tamugan Gym – Third district

• DMMA Buhangin-Second District

• Buhangin Gym-Second District

• Maa Elementary School-First District

• UM Matina Campus-First District

• Lasang Barangay Hall-Second Dsitrict

• Brokenshire Gym-First District

• Mandug Gym-Second District

• San Rafael Gym-First District

• SIR Phase 2 Gym-First District

• Upper Madapo Gym-First District

• Bankerohan Gym-First District

• Waan Gym-Second District

• Uyanguren Gym-First District

• El Rio Gym-First District

• Barangay Bantol Gym-Third District

• Barangay Dominga — House of Barangay Captain Lomandas -Third district

• Barangay Lampianao — Dumalag Elementary School – Third District

  

For those who want to personally hand their help, the city government advised them to look for the staff of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO)

The City government sounded on the sirens when water levels in the different monitoring stations went up and forced evacuation was implemented.

The Villages of Deca Homes  in Tigatto and Jade Valley in Buhangin District are hardly hit as the water reached the rooftop.

The residents of Don Julian Village and Gem Village in Maa stated to evacuate at 8:00 in the evening December 22 as water level rapidly increases and Davao river burst.

Bankerohan River as of 6am December 23. -Photo courtesy of Erin Lomusbog/RMMNdxDC

 

Cristina (Family name withheld upon request), Chemical Engineer  and a resident of Maa said “The current of water last night was stronger than what we experienced in June 28. 2008. Water cascaded so fast, water current was stronger and water level is even higher.”

Her neighbors whose houses were located near the Davao River are now  temporarily staying at Maa Gymnasium.

The alarm system greatly helped the residents as it was their indicator of an impending disaster in their areas.

It was then that some residents hurriedly and forcibly left their homes.

As of 8:00 in the morning weather forecast Tropical Storm Vinta has slightly intensified as it continues moving westward at 20 km. per hour (kph) toward southern Palawan, the state weather agency said Saturday morning.

“Vinta” was last eyed at 210 km. west-northwest of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, or 285 km. southeast of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 95 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 8 a.m. weather bulletin.

Tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) no. 2 was raised over southern Palawan, and no. 1 over the rest of Palawan. TCWS no. 1 over the Zamboanga provinces has been lifted.

Sea travel remains risky over areas under TCWS, the southern seaboard of Mindoro, and western seaboard of Aklan and Antique.

Power supply has been cut-off since last night in many affected areas. The city government distributed foodstuff to the affected residents. –Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph