JOSE ABAD SANTOS, Davao Occidental – Another tragedy has struck the municipality of Jose Abad Santos as at least seven people were swept away by raging floodwaters in Barangay Tanuman on Friday night, July 10, adding to the suffering of a community still struggling to recover from the devastating Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that recently ravaged the town.
The latest disaster unfolded after hours of intense rainfall triggered flash flooding that inundated several communities, sending torrents of water through rivers and low-lying areas. The incident has further deepened the humanitarian crisis in the municipality, where many residents are still rebuilding their homes and lives following the powerful earthquake.
In a public advisory posted on social media, Mayor Jason John Joyce confirmed that seven individuals were carried away by the floodwaters in Barangay Tanuman.
“JASENYOS, naay 7 ka tawo nga naanod sa baha sa Brgy. Tanuman gabie,” the mayor announced, urging residents living along the municipality’s coastline to immediately report any victims who may be found washed ashore to their respective barangay officials.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the missing individuals as search and rescue operations continue.
Roads Impassable, Homes Washed Away
The flooding also caused widespread destruction across the municipality.
According to local officials, sections of the road in Barangay Tanuman remain not passable after being buried under thick mud, logs, rocks, and debris carried downstream by the floodwaters. The blocked roads have complicated rescue efforts and delayed the delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Mayor Joyce also disclosed that several barangays reported houses being swept away by the flood. Fortunately, residents of those homes had already evacuated before the floodwaters reached their communities, preventing additional casualties.
Local disaster response teams are now conducting damage assessments while engineering crews work to clear blocked roads.
Residents Urged to Evacuate
With continuous rains threatening to trigger more flooding and possible landslides, the municipal government has renewed its appeal for residents living in high-risk areas to leave immediately when conditions worsen.
Mayor Joyce specifically warned families residing near mountainsides, riverbanks, creeks, and flood-prone areas to evacuate to safer locations during periods of heavy rainfall.
Authorities fear that saturated soil from days of relentless rain could trigger additional landslides while swollen rivers remain dangerous.
Community Already Reeling from Earthquake
The flooding comes at a particularly painful time for Jose Abad Santos.
Only recently, the municipality suffered extensive destruction from a powerful Magnitude 7.8 earthquake, which damaged homes, public infrastructure, schools, and government facilities, forcing many families into temporary shelters.
Before recovery efforts could fully gain momentum, another natural disaster has now struck, leaving residents once again facing uncertainty, displacement, and loss.
The successive disasters underscore the growing vulnerability of communities in southern Mindanao to multiple hazards, especially as persistent heavy rains continue to affect large portions of the region.
Search and rescue operations remain underway for the seven individuals swept away by the flood, while local authorities continue monitoring river systems and weather conditions, urging residents to remain vigilant and immediately heed evacuation advisories as the threat of further flooding persists.