Iloilo City under state of calamity

ILOILO CITY — This city has been placed under a "state of calamity" as flash floods, spawned by continuous rains the past three days, submerged 103 of its 180 barangays.

The floods have temporarily displaced 19,655 families, according to the city’s social welfare office. Poor drainage was blamed for the flooding.

Most affected was the Jaro district, although the La Paz, Mandurriao and Molo districts were also under water.

Mayor Jerry Treñas fear that the flooding will worsen if the rains won’t stop.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said flooding was also reported in the Iloilo towns of Pavia, Oton, San Miguel, Maasin, Barotac Nuevo and Guimbal.

Meanwhile, tropical depression "Milenyo," which battered the Visayas and parts of Luzon early this week, left at least four people dead and 21 others missing in the region, civil defense officials said.

Besides Iloilo and this city, badly affected were Negros Occidental and Antique.

The other day, the Office of Civil Defense placed the "Milenyo" death toll at 29. — Leo Solinap