Rains trigger chest-deep floods in Maguindanao town

Chest-deep floods hit several areas in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province after heavy rains Thursday night caused a river there to overflow. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said floodwaters in Bulalo, Banubo, Catuli, Calsada, Limbo and Salimbao villages remained chest-deep as of 7 a.m. Friday. "Although residents of these barangays are already used to this kind of situation ... they evacuated temporarily along the higher portion of national highways," it said. NDCC said the rains since 10 p.m. Thursday caused the Simuay River to overflow. It added the Quirino Bridge connecting Sultan Kudarat town to Cotabato City was congested with vehicles. A portion of the highway was impassable to light vehicles. On the other hand, classes at all levels in the area were disrupted but not suspended. The NDCC said the Sultan Kudarat town disaster coordinating council is monitoring the situation and preparing for mass evacuation if the situation worsens. Emergency response units of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Maguindanao and Cotabato City were placed on standby to assist if needed. For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways is rechanneling Simuay River through the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project. — LBG, GMANews.TV