Nine residents, including four children and two senior citizens, were reported missing after being swept away by flash floods in Barangay Tanuman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, following hours of torrential rain on Friday night, just weeks after the municipality was struck by a strong earthquake.
In a Facebook post, Jose Abad Santos Mayor Jason John Joyce said seven residents were initially reported missing after floodwaters rapidly rose in Barangay Tanuman. However, in an update posted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the mayor said the number of missing persons had increased to nine.
He said search and rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue to scour affected areas for the missing residents.
Joyce appealed to the public to immediately report to barangay officials any information that could help locate the missing individuals.
The mayor also urged residents living near mountains, riverbanks, creeks, and flood-prone communities to evacuate to safer areas as heavy rains continue to pose threats of flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, a video uploaded by Nel Vlog ng JAS showed the aftermath of the flooding and claimed that at least four houses were swept away by the strong river current following relentless rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The video also claimed that several people were believed to have been inside one of the houses carried away by the floodwaters. However, authorities have yet to verify these claims.
Earlier, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Jose Abad Santos issued a public advisory prohibiting all non-essential activities along rivers, creeks, coastal areas, and other bodies of water due to the heightened risk of flash floods, landslides, and the sudden rise in water levels.
The advisory followed the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) warning of moderate to heavy rainfall over Davao Occidental due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, which was intensified by Tropical Cyclone Inday.
Residents living near riverbanks, creeks, and low-lying areas were advised to remain on alert and prepare for possible evacuation. Fishermen and boat operators were also instructed not to venture out to sea, while parents and guardians were reminded to keep children away from rivers and flood-prone areas. Barangay officials were likewise directed to closely monitor conditions in their communities and implement preemptive evacuations when necessary.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as search and rescue operations proceed amid persistent rainfall and adverse weather conditions.
