Floods hit Southern Mindanao, kill 3

DAVAO CITY - Flash floods from continuous rains hit Southern Midanao this week, claiming at least three lives in various parts of the region.

Reports from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) here bared that the floods affected Tagum City and the adjacent provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Thousands of villagers have evacuated to safer ground as rains continued to pour yesterday.

Rescue workers on board rubber boats have reportedly saved at least 68 persons who were trapped in the floods caused by the swelling waters of Libuganon River in Tagum.

The OCD said one Santiago Bangkailan, 80, drowned Wednesday while crossing the swollen La Union River in San Isidro, Davao Oriental.

Two other persons, both unidentified, were also reported to have died from the flash floods in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Meanwhile, over 6,000 residents in the municipalities of Braulio Dujali and Carmen have been evacuated to safer ground after Bingcungan River overflowed.

Also, a still undetermined number of residents in two CARAGA provinces had fled their homes due to floods.

Col. Santiago Prajido, commanding officer of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade, said thousands of villagers were evacuated at the height of heavy flooding in Agusan del Sur.

Continuous rains have caused rivers to swell in Agusan, he said.

Prajido mentioned the municipalities of Tagbina and Hinatuan and the national highway leading to Bislig town in Surigao del Sur as hardly hit by floods.

Social worker Nicnic Pahate said two workers of a palm oil plantation in Rosario, Agusan del Sur were drowned in flood waters after the Rosario river swelled.

Pahate identified the workers as Luis Valdez and his wife who were found dead in Barangay Libuac, Rosario town.

The social worker added that the floods had affected other towns in Agusan del Sur such as Viruela, Trento, Loreto, Bunawan, Esperanza, San Luis and Bayugan.

In Butuan City, floods also forced residents in low-lying areas to flee to higher ground. Local weather officials believe the flooding may still get worse as rains continue to pour.

Civil defense officials are still assessing the damage from the floods.