Flash floods hit 5 Maguindanao villages

COTABATO CITY — Flash floods spawned by heavy rains swept through five barangays in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao the other day, displacing hundreds of villagers and destroying an estimated P5 million worth of crops.

Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tucao Mastura said the rains swelled the Simuay River, inundating the five barangays.

"This happens every year. When there are continuous rains in the surrounding mountains which are now denuded and barren, the barangays along the banks of the Simuay River get flooded," he said.

Mastura said they have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to dredge heavily silted portions of the river to hasten downstream flow into the Moro Gulf. — John Unson