BACOLOD City – Nearly 2,000 individuals were displaced after flash floods hit three localities in Negros Occidental following torrential rains caused by the shearline affecting the Visayas on Sunday night, December 22.
In Cadiz City, 430 families or 1,730 individuals across five villages were evacuated, data from the City Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) showed on Monday, December 23.
Here is the breakdown of the evacuees: Barangay Burgos (1,200 persons), Barangay Daga (60 persons), Barangay Mabini (60 persons), Barangay Andres Bonifacio (210 persons), and Barangay Luna (200 persons).
They sought shelter in evacuation centers situated in the covered courts of the four villages and in Daga Elementary School.
Sagrado Villas housing site in Barangay Burgos has the most number of affected residents. Some of them were rescued from the rooftops by volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross Negros Occidental-Bacolod City Chapter.
Cadiz City’s Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. expressed sadness over the incident that happened three days before Christmas day.
On Monday, Escalante said the affected families in Barangay Burgos were able to return home after the floodwaters subsided. The city government provided them with relief assistance.
In Victorias City, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez posted in his social media account that heavy rains stopped around 1:30 a.m. on Monday.
The flash floods affected 10 families or 37 individuals from barangays 21, 7 and 6. They were temporarily staying at the city’s coliseum.
Also, Mayor Manolet Esclante of Manapla town said Barangay 1-A residents were the hardest hit by the massive flooding.
As of this writing, displaced residents were brought to evacuation centers in five schools and a gymnasium./PN
