1 dead as rains batter Mindanao ahead of Inday's Luzon onslaught

MANILA, Philippines — A 50-year-old man died after being swept away by raging flood waters in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Wednesday evening as heavy rains batter Mindanao with the entry of “Inday” into the country, and ahead of its expected onslaught of Luzon.

Inday significantly enhanced the effect of the southwest monsoon, dumping rains over Malaybalay and nearby areas in Bukidnon.

Among the hardest-hit areas was Barangay Managok, where floodwaters submerged rice fields and overflowed a spillway. Flooding was also reported in Barangays Miglamin, Linabo, Violeta and Simaya, sending over a hundred villagers to seek temporary shelter in evacuation centers.

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READ: Luzon provinces brace for Inday impact

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Dozens of local government units in mainland Mindanao suspended classes on Thursday for both private and public schools as torrential rains brought by typhoon “Inday” flooded major highways and communities.

Classes were ordered suspended in the entire or parts of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, and South Cotabato in Region 12 (Soccsksargen); and Bukidnon in Region 10, to ensure the safety of students, teachers and other school personnel.

READ: Negros localities suspend classes ahead of Inday

In Maguindanao del Sur, traffic along a portion of the Cotabato-Isulan road was halted since before dawn on Thursday due to flash floods that inundated the highway in Barangay Tambunan, Talayan town, Gov. Ali Midtimbang said in a statement.

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The Talayan municipal disaster risk reduction and management personnel rescued several residents trapped by neck-deep floodwater after the Tambunan river overflowed due to light to moderate downpour overnight.

Col. John Michael Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur police director, said that a portion of the highway in Barangay Tambunan, Talayan remained impassable to light vehicles as of Thursday noon due to flash floods spawned by torrential rains affecting the province since Wednesday afternoon.

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Police personnel were deployed to assist stranded motorists, manage traffic flow, and conduct road safety operations along the national highway to minimize risks and maintain order.

In Maguindanao del Norte, at least 100 families have been evacuated to safer grounds as the Nituan River in Barangay Nituan, Parang town overflowed on Wednesday night.

In South Cotabato, most of the local government units also suspended classes due to heavy rains, citing the safety of students and teachers.

Moderate to heavy rains also pounded Cotabato province, resulting in class suspension in most towns in the province. In Kidapawan City, the downpour damaged stalls selling fresh fruits.

In Sultan Kudarat, Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ordered a preemptive evacuation in Barangay Sangay in Kalamansig and Christian Nuevo in Lebak, due to flash floods triggered by overnight rainfall.

A landslide in Barangay Kiponget, Palimbang, had cut traffic flow from General Santos City to the coastal towns of Kalamansig and Lebak.

In the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia in Bukidnon, classes were also suspended as flooding and landslides made travel unsafe for students, teachers, and school personnel.

In Luzon, authorities look forward to Inday’s rains to fill Angat Dam with water. The dam, Metro Manila’s main source of water, had its lowest recorded elevation in almost two decades. As of 6 a.m. on Thursday, its water was at 156.69 meters above sea level (MASL), based on records at the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO). At 11:00 a.m., it dipped slightly to 156.66 MASL.

The summer months meant less rains at the Angat watershed within the Sierra Madre mountains. The reservoir level is expected to further decline after it surpassed the July 2010 level of 157.56 masl, its lowest so far, coming at a time when the country suffered from the El Niño phenomenon.

“It (dam elevation) could possibly rise a bit because of the Habagat brought by typhoon Inday,” said Raul Agustin, a senior officer at the PDRRMO.

In Batanes, first responders on Thursday recorded giant waves criscrossing its waters, particularly the Valugan Boulder beach in Basco town and the waters off Itbayat and Sabtang towns.

Boats and other water vessels were earlier barred from traveling on July 8. Several villagers have voluntarily evacuated to higher grounds in Itbayat and Sabtang but the total number of evacuees have yet to be recorded.

In Cagayan province, the Department of Health imposed a Code White Alert Status for all health facilities in the region. Dr. Ferdinand Benbenen, DOH regional director, ordered DOH-operated hospitals to reactivate emergency response mechanisms and form standby emergency teams gor quick deployment.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Bicol had suspended sea travel in Camarines Norte and Catanduanes as a precautionary measure against the possible impact of Inday.

LTJG Alyzza Novie Bermal, information officer of Coast Guard District Bicol, said vessels with 250 gross tons and below have been prohibited from sailing in Camarines Norte. In Catanduanes, all types of vessels have been barred from traveling following the raising of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 earlier on Thursday.

A total of 640 Coast Guard personnel have been deployed. Commodore Ivan Roldan, Coast Guard Bicol commander, said all stations and substations in the region have been placed on heightened alert.

In Oriental Mindoro, the PDRRMC declared a blue alert effective 6 a.m. on July 9, as authorities brace for the possible effects of Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

This raised the province’s disaster response readiness from white alert to ensure heightened monitoring, coordination, and preparedness among local government units and response agencies.

Gov. Humerlito Dolor, PDRRMC chairperson, directed all city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices to intensify preparedness measures to protect residents from the impact of the weather disturbance. Dolor also instructed schools to implement localized class suspensions based on the actual weather conditions in their communities instead of imposing a province-wide cancellation of classes.

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Meanwhile, provincial authorities said some Montenegro Shipping Lines vessels continued operating on a limited schedule until 4 p.m. on July 9 to allow stranded passengers to travel while weather conditions remain manageable. Reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Villamor Visayas Jr, Michael B. Jaucian, and Madonna Virola, Edwin O. Fernandez, Mel N. Velez, Bong S. Sarmiento, Williamor Magbanua INQ