InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA - Authorities were not remiss in warning the public about potential flash floods in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, Office of Civil Defense chief Undersecretary Benito Ramos said Saturday.
"That is not true," Ramos said when reached by phone. He said proper warnings were issued by both the local and national governments, alerting residents living near the Cagayan de Oro River and other flood-prone areas in Iligan City on the possible overflowing of these river systems.
In fact, the warning was made three days ago on December 13. "Blame it on the attitude, indifference of our people," Ramos said. "Why didn't the residents evacuate?"
Scores of people were dead in these cities while over 300 more remain missing.
In Cagayan de Oro , 13 villages living near the river were ravaged by floodwaters which struck at 2:30 a.m. Authorities blamed it on the swelling of the river.
In Iligan City, 24 villages were also flooded due to the converging of two rivers -- Agus and Mandulu -- from Lanao del Sur.
"This happened when people were asleep. They were caught by surprise," Ramos said.
An estimated 100 millimeter of rainfall affected these cities. "Enough warning has been made," Ramos reiterated.
As of 3:30 p.m., power has been restored in several areas in the two cities.
