Hundreds flee floods in Davao City; 1 dead

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May 20, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Heavy downpour spawned by the easterlies and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) since Monday night triggered flooding in several areas in Davao City yesterday, leaving one person dead and families fleeing to safety.

The fatality, a 21-year-old man, reportedly drowned after he was electrocuted near his home in Barangay Buhangin. He was rushed to the Philippine Medical Center, where he was declared dead on arrival at around 3:15 a.m.

In a statement, city information officer Harvey Lanticse said a total of 358 families evacuated to safety on Monday night.

“As of this morning, the evacuees have started returning home,” Lanticse said yesterday.

The heavy downpour caused a river to swell, which resulted in the collapse of a bridge in Barangay Callawa. A hanging bridge in Barangay Matina Pangi also sustained damage from the flooding.

Dean Ortiz, spokesman for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao, said the 15-meter bridge in Callawa, which was constructed in 2017, was not able to withstand the rush of the floodwaters.

Th DPWH said it would install a temporary access for light vehicles and start repairing the bridge within a month.

“The office will deploy workers and equipment to install a bailey panel, which will serve as a temporary bridge while we request funds to build a new one,” Ortiz said.

The city government suspended classes at all levels, both in private and public schools as well as work in government offices yesterday.

City officials said the suspension of classes and work was necessary to give way to clearing operations and ensure the safety and welfare of people affected by flooding.

Offices performing safety, security, health and social services remained open to respond to any emergency that may arise.

The rain continued until yesterday morning, inundating several areas including the St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish in Barangay Buhangin.

A business owner lost over P800,000 in food and grocery items as floodwaters entered his shop, damaging up to 100 sacks of rice. His motorcycle and truck were swept away by the flood.

Aside from Buhangin and Matina Pangi, the village of Bajada was also flooded.

Meanwhile, the effects of the ITCZ will be felt in some parts of Mindanao while Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon will experience localized thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the ITCZ would bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms in the Bangsamoro region, Davao Occidental, Soccsksargen and Zamboanga peninsula.

Bicol, Caraga, Davao Oriental and Eastern Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

Localized thunderstorms will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila and the rest of the country. — Bella Cariaso, Edith Regalado, Josiah Antonio