Several areas in Bohol were hit by flooding on Tuesday as heavy rain brought by Tropical Depression Verbena caused rivers to swell and overflow into residential communities.
In Barangay Loreto in Cortes and Barangay Tupaz in Antequera, floodwaters rose rapidly, submerging several houses.
Among the affected was the home of the Coquilla family, which was destroyed when water from the nearby river rushed into their area. The family had already evacuated before the incident, preventing any injuries.
Pacifica Coquilla, 68, a resident of Purok 6 in Barangay Loreto, described how quickly the water rose. Their dangkahan (copra dryer) and several bamboo furniture pieces they were selling were swept away by the flood.
‘It wasn’t the wind. It was water-so much water because of the heavy rain. That’s what caused the flooding, ‘ she said in Cebuano.
Nearby homes were also submerged, forcing residents to stay on higher ground until the water receded.
Some locals attempting to return home were unable to cross the flooded pathway, as water in certain portions reached waist-deep. One young man, however, braved the strong current to get across.
‘We’ll stay here until it’s safe to cross,’ said Bonifacio Verano, 89, a resident of Barangay Tupaz, who was worried about his dogs.
Flooding was also reported in parts of Tubigon, Loon, and Maribojoc, where emergency teams continued monitoring waterways and assisting affected residents.
The continuous heavy rains that drenched the entire province of Bohol on Monday triggered evacuations and prompted widespread class suspensions on Tuesday.
Light to heavy rainfall was experienced from Monday morning until the early hours of Tuesday, with downpours intensifying at past 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to initial reports from disaster response units, a total of 345 families or 2,000 individuals sought refuge in evacuation centers across 13 municipalities, as authorities moved residents away from flood-prone and landslide-susceptible areas