About 228 families or about 1,100 individuals have been affected by flash floods and strong winds that hit four villages of Norala town in South Cotabato province, a disaster action officer said Wednesday. ‘This is the first time that these villages experienced strong winds and flash floods,’ said Rolly Aquino, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer. He identified the hardest hit area as Barangay Simsiman after it was submerged in flood and lashed by strong winds on Tuesday afternoon. The other affected villages are Matapol, San Jose, and Liberty. ‘The provincial government has initially extended emergency aid to the affected families,’ Aquino said. Aiza Gabion-Lim, the municipal DRRMO, said shelter financial assistance from the provincial social welfare office would also be made available for residents whose houses were destroyed. ‘No evacuation was reported since the villagers stayed in their homes,’ he said, adding that the storm was over in an hour or two and the floodwater quickly subsided. In Bagumbayan town, about 23 families in Barangay Poblacion were evacuated due to flooding but returned home when the water subsided.

Source: Philippines News Agency