Flash floods, rock fall block Cotabato-Bukidnon highway for 3 hours
COTABATO CITY—Motorists traversing the road that leads to the provinces of Cotabato and Bukidnon were told to take precaution after a rampaging flash flood blocked the road on Sunday.
Vice Mayor Jonathan Mahimpit of President Roxas town of Cotabato province, said the road was closed to traffic at around 2 p.m. on Sunday after the rampaging floodwaters, coupled with rock fall, occurred in a part of his town’s Barangay Greenhills.
Along with the onrush of floodwater, people also noticed the rocks from the upper portion of the slopes to have fallen downhill and blocked the road, affecting the flow of traffic in the area.
The road was opened again after three hours of clearing operation, he said.
The vice mayor, who personally supervised the clearing operation, said the municipal disaster responders—armed with shovels and backed by a payloader—removed the rocks and boulders left by the rampaging waters.
The road was already passable by Monday but the vice mayor warned motorists there might still be rocks that might have been loosened after days of rains.
“The road is now passable but motorists are advised to take precaution,” Mahimpit said.
Accident-prone
Barangay Greenhills’ portion of the Cotabato to Bukidnon highway has been listed as accident-prone due to flash floods that often occurred in the area after a heavy downpour.
The place is also known for rock falls from the mountains and landslides.
Huge signage installed along the highway remind motorists of the danger during heavy rains.
“We remind our motorists to remain on alert of imminent danger and take extra care in traversing the descending portion of highway in Barangay Greenhills,” Mahimpit said in the town’s Facebook page.
