Cebu, Mandaue flooded after Tuesday downpour

Local

SEVERAL areas in Cebu City and Mandaue City experienced flooding on Tuesday, July 21, following heavy rains brought by a prevailing weather disturbance affecting parts of the country.

In Cebu City, City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the City Council Committee on Disaster, said authorities were monitoring several rivers and flood-prone areas after water levels rose amid continuous rainfall.

Tumulak said the Sapangdaku River reached 3.5 meters, prompting disaster response teams to closely monitor the situation.

Authorities also closely monitored ater levels and river movements in Barangay Ermita, Barangay Sambag 2, and Barangay Zapatera for possible escalation.

At the back portion of T. Padilla Public Market, floodwaters reached waist level, according to Tumulak.

Despite flooding in several areas, Tumulak said no evacuations had been reported.

City disaster authorities continued to monitor conditions on the ground and were prepared to respond should water levels continue to rise.

Meanwhile, a landslide was also reported in a National Housing Authority (NHA) project area in Barangay Busay.

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Tumulak said floodwaters in several areas had already subsided but warned that water levels could rise again once rains return.

He added that responders were already on their way to the reported landslide site at the NHA project area in Barangay Busay to assess the situation.

In neighboring Mandaue City, several roads became impassable due to flooding caused by rising water levels.

The Mandaue City Command Center reported that a portion of Lopez Jaena Street in Subangdaku, particularly the La Tondeña area, was not passable to all types of vehicles due to the overflow of Mahiga Creek.

The command center also issued advisories on other affected areas, including A.S. Fortuna Street near Skina Gloria, where high water levels made the area not passable to all vehicles as of 12:51 p.m. Traffic in the area was reported to be moderate to heavy.

Motorists were advised to avoid affected roads, take alternate routes, and exercise caution while traveling.

By around 2 p.m., however, road conditions along A.S. Fortuna Street and Lopez Jaena Street in Tipolo, including the Star Oil area, had returned to normal.

Both roads were reopened and became passable to all types of vehicles, according to the Mandaue City Command Center.

The flooding occurred as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of continued rains in parts of the country due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.(MyTVCebu)