Floods blamed on rains, badly clogged waterways

CEBU, Philippines - Continuous downpour that lasted for several hours coupled with the abnormal amount of rainfall on the afternoon of February 7 in the southern towns of Cebu resulted in the overflow of creeks, and eventually in flashfloods.

Findings of the geological investigation conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 in Santander and Samboan towns revealed that aside from the heavy rains, debris that clogged up waterways had also contributed to the flooding. Further, geologists have observed that creeks have small culverts.

According to Abraham Lucero Jr., senior science research specialist of the MGB-7, the “relatively small creeks cannot accommodate the huge volume of rainwater, thus resulting to flashfloods.”

Houses located in the lower reaches and near the mouths of overflowing creeks were the ones mostly damaged, including livestock and crops.

Findings also disclosed that 28 coconut trees were “damaged by the strong winds” while “sections of the two municipalities’ coastal areas facing Tañon Strait were damaged by coastal erosion because of strong wave actions.”

The scouring effect of rushing floodwaters in barangay Liloan, Santander damaged the foundation of the concrete road causing the collapse of a portion of it, about a 100-meter span.

Heavy equipment from the Cebu Provincial Engineering Office was used to rehabilitate the roads and dredge the heavily silted creeks where limestone, reportedly as big as boulders, had accumulated.

No casualty was reported except for a missing fisherman in Santander.

Continuous downpour with reportedly abnormal amount of rainfall was also experienced for hours in Dumaguete City and Amlan town of neighboring Oriental Negros.

To recall, the barangays affected in Samboan were San Sebastian, Colase, Dalahikan, and Tangbo while barangays affected in Santander include Pasil, Poblacion, Looc Lilo-an, and Talisay.– Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)