3-hour rain destroys bridge; nearly a hundred stranded

CEBU, Philippines - Following a heavy downpour yesterday morning in Medellin town, close to a hundred people were stranded after a nearby creek overflowed, destroying a makeshift bridge that connected two barangays.

Fortunately, no casualty was reported.

Gemma Villamor, head of the town’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told The FREEMAN that the heavy rains that doused Medellin around 8 a.m. yesterday lasted for three hours.

She said the creek located in Sitio Bangon, Barangay Caputatan Norte is prone to overflowing since it is a catchment area of floodwaters coming from upland barangays.

The destroyed bridge was the only main access to barangays of Caputatan Norte and Dalingding Sur, she added.

Personnel from the disaster office in Barangay Caputatan Norte also responded to the situation and assisted the residents in crossing the other side of the creek using ropes after the overflow subsided.

“Wala sa namo paagii ang lugar kay kusog pa pod ang baha. Pag-manageable na ang condition, katong gusto g’yud manabok amo na lang gipakupot sa pisi. Naa ta’y standby sakop sa BDRRMO (a barangay disaster office) didto,” Villamor said over the phone.

Students who had been using the same bridge were also forced to go back home.

Further, the local disaster office recommended to the concerned barangays to provide a sturdy bridge as replacement to the one destroyed.

Villamor, though, said she understands that the barangay cannot put up a permanent bridge in the area since the lot where the makeshift bridge stood is privately owned.

“At least unta ila lang buhatan og lig-on unya taas-taas pod,” she said.

In a separate interview, PAGASA Mactan chief meteorologist Al Quiblat reported that the intense rain felt in Medellin yesterday was caused by a thunderstorm.

With this, he warned the public to take precautionary measures and stay indoors upon noticing formation of dark clouds. He said thunderstorms may also bring thunder, rain shower with strong gusts, and even tornado.

“Public should stay away from pointed objects, trees and electric posts,” Quiblat said, adding that the weather bureau continues to disseminate thunderstorm advisories to the local government units. — (FREEMAN)