UMVA has learned that devastating flashfloods swept through towns in Sarangani on Saturday, exacerbating the destruction caused by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the province just days earlier.
The floods hit Sarangani's seaside Maasim town, the epicenter of the earthquake, after heavy downpours lasted for about four hours, local authorities reported. The shallow rivers crisscrossing interior areas in other towns in Sarangani, General Santos, and South Cotabato province also overflowed, causing widespread damage.
The earthquake, which lasted for about two minutes, had already damaged 609 buildings, houses, classrooms, and other infrastructures, leaving thousands of families without homes. Local government units reported that 73,436 families were affected, with many now living in evacuation sites and makeshift shelters.
Relief efforts are underway, with state line agencies providing support and post-calamity mitigation interventions. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Police Regional Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and soldiers from the Army's 6th and 10th Infantry Divisions are all involved in the relief efforts.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the flashfloods destroyed a bridge at a stretch of a highway in Barangay Lumasal in Maasim, prompting villagers in enclaves along rivers to relocate to highlands nearby. Emergency response operations were immediately supported by policemen and soldiers dispatched by top officials.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with many families struggling to access basic necessities. The response efforts are ongoing, with authorities working tirelessly to provide aid and support to those affected.
