Four Children Killed in Lanao del Sur Due to Heavy Rain and Strong Winds

On Friday in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, four children were killed and three others injured when their tricycle was struck by a falling tree during a heavy downpour caused by the southwest monsoon. The victims were en route to an Arabic school in downtown Malabang when a strong gust of wind toppled an Acacia tree around 2 p.m., which then fell on their passing tricycle, according to Malabang police.

The deceased individuals have been identified as Jehana Cali Alikan, 13, Janna Cali Tantaon, 12, Sittie Hana Manioba, 7, and Alysa Airoden, 15.

Those critically injured include tricycle driver Napi Abdulazis, 18, Saila Amerol, 9, and an unnamed passenger.

All of the victims are from Barangay Cabasaran in Malabang.

Hadja Linang Pangkat, the Provincial Social Welfare Officer for Lanao del Sur, has directed a team of social workers from the Ministry of Social Services and Development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MSSD-BARMM). They have been assisting the families of the deceased with financial support and offering medical aid to the survivors.

Recent monsoon rains over the past two days have caused flash floods in various areas of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.

Early Saturday morning, strong winds and heavy rains caused an acacia tree to fall, destroying a Cotabato City Police Office outpost in PC Hill and damaging several posts of the Cotabato Light and Power Company.

In the upland town of Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, continuous moderate to heavy rain from Friday through early Saturday resulted in several homes being submerged by floodwaters.

 On Friday afternoon, landslides made the road connecting Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur impassable.

Electric posts and trees were knocked down, causing a power outage along the Narciso Ramos Highway, which links Matanog in Maguindanao del Norte with Kapatagan in Lanao del Sur.

In response, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abduraof Macacua has directed the provincial engineering office to deploy all available heavy equipment for clearing the road.

In North Kabuntalan, also in Maguindanao del Norte, Mayor Ramil Dilangalen reported that the municipal disaster office carried out emergency evacuations in Barangay Damatog and Barangay Gayonga due to flash floods affecting the areas.

In Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur, Mayor Datu Tungkang Midtimbang has instructed the local police to close off a section of the national highway leading to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, due to severe flooding.

In Lebak, the road connecting the town to Cotabato City was obstructed by large rocks, mud, and fallen trees in Barangay Bolebak.