Davao del Norte submerged in floodwater

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Philippines- A resident drowned while thousands of families were displaced as several towns here were flooded after heavy rain from tropical depression “Crising.”

Affected towns include Asuncion, Carmen, Santo Tomas, Talaingod and Kapalong.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the casualty as Nelson Jimenez of Barangay Sampao who died while trying to rescue and warn his workmates in a banana plantation.

More than 14,235 families or 70,432 residents were affected by the flooding, the NDRRMC reported.

Banana plantations, which are still recovering from the devastation brought by Typhoon Pablo last December, are also submerged in waist-deep floodwater.

Residents are taking shelter in makeshift tents mostly along the road.

Martina Guinang, 60, from Sitio Labuon, Barangay Maniki in Kapalong said the floodwater started to submerge houses and plantations on Monday morning, February 18.

“The rain and the wind were not that strong. That is why we were shocked when the water came rushing in,” Guinang said.

She narrated that they immediately sought refuge in higher ground because they feared that the devastation caused by Pablo will happen again in their village.

“It is really dangerous to wade in the water because the current of the flood is like the current in the river,” Guinang said.

The local government has already mobilized rescue units and volunteers for relief operations. – Rappler.com