Floods submerge Central Mindanao villages

MANILA, Philippines – At least 10 Central Mindanao villages were submerged by floodwaters after a major river system overflowed after days of incessant rains, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported.

The NDCC said at least 8,500 families have been affected by the floods in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces after the Simuary River overflowed late last week.

The agency listed the affected villages as Bulalo (1,500 families,) Salimbao (1,000), Banubo, (600) Katuli (800), Calsada (1,500) Limbo (1,500) Gang (500), Macaguiling (100), Mulaog (500), and Senditan (200).

However, the NDCC said no major evacuation has yet taken place despite many areas being waist-deep in floods, except for some 20 families, or around 200 persons, who have sought temporary shelter in their vehicles, which they drove to an elevated portion of the national highway in Bulalo, Salimbao and Limbo.

There were also no reported casualties but the floods on the national highway have caused heavy traffic.

Cloudy skies with a high probability of rain prevail in Sultan Kudarat and parts of Maguindanao and North Cotabato, including the municipalities of Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap and Pigcawayan and Cotabato City. (Anthony Vargas)