Heavy rains that poured over the city Monday evening for nearly five hours caused rivers and creeks to swell, inundating low-lying communities and forcing residents to evacuate from flood-prone areas including Matina Pangi, NHA Bangkal in Talomo Proper, Catalunan Grande, Maa, and nearby riverside communities.
Teams from the “Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong” program were immediately deployed overnight to flood- and landslide-hit areas to conduct relief and monitoring operations, particularly in Barangay Catalunan Grande where at least three families were directly affected by a landslide incident.
Volunteers and responders distributed hot porridge, food packs, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals, blankets, and other emergency supplies to displaced residents, especially children, senior citizens, and families temporarily staying in evacuation centers.
In Matina Pangi, the office of Rep. Duterte also distributed PZD Kits containing emergency necessities, including bread, coffee, baby supplies, diapers, milk, hygiene kits, and other essentials intended for infants and young children affected by the flooding.
According to the two officials, the immediate relief response was aimed at ensuring vulnerable residents received urgent assistance while waiting for floodwaters to recede and conditions to stabilize.
Initial reports from the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) showed that more than 200 families were evacuated in Matina Pangi alone after the Matina Pangi River reached critical levels and overflowed into nearby residential areas.
The flooding also affected communities along the river system, including portions of Matina Crossing, Bangkal, and surrounding low-lying areas.
While some residents later returned to their homes after floodwaters subsided, several families opted to remain temporarily in barangay evacuation centers or seek shelter with relatives.
In Bangkal, displaced residents took temporary refuge at the Lady of Lourdes Parish.
Rep. Duterte and Vice Mayor Duterte assured affected communities that relief distribution, monitoring, and emergency assistance operations would continue as intermittent rains and unstable weather conditions persist in several parts of the city.
The offices of the two officials also emphasized the importance of rapid disaster response, close coordination with rescue teams and barangay officials, and strengthening long-term community preparedness measures for vulnerable flood-prone areas.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck Barangay Buhangin early Tuesday morning after a 21-year-old man was found dead in floodwaters.
Police identified the victim as a pump boy and a native of Manay, Davao Oriental, who had been renting a house in Davao City.
Authorities said responders were conducting monitoring operations in flooded communities when they received reports about a man floating in floodwaters in front of his rented residence.
Rescuers attempted to revive the victim and rushed him to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, but he was later declared dead.
Initial medical findings indicated the victim died from accidental electrocution and drowning after being submerged in floodwaters.
As of Tuesday morning, the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported moderate to heavy rainfall in portions of Marilog, Calinan, and Baguio Districts, while light rains continued in parts of Tugbok and Talomo Districts. Other areas of Davao City were experiencing partly cloudy to cloudy skies.