Floods, landslides hit Malaybalay

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Heavy rains triggered landslides and severe flooding in several outlying barangays of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Wednesday afternoon, stranding motorists and prompting the suspension of classes in six elementary schools, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said.

The CDRRMO reported that continuous rains that began at noon caused landslides that blocked roads in Barangay Summit, while severe flooding inundated parts of Barangays Managok, Maligaya, Violet and Miglamin, including several rice fields.

Floodwaters from the Sawaga and Pulangi rivers also overflowed onto the national highway, leaving several vehicles stranded.

The city government deployed heavy equipment to clear landslide debris, while rescue teams were dispatched to assist residents in the affected communities.

In an advisory, the Department of Education Schools Division of Malaybalay City suspended face-to-face classes on Thursday to ensure the safety of learners and school personnel.

The affected schools are Sawaga Elementary School, Langasihan Elementary School, Managok Central School, Maligaya Integrated School, and Matangpatang Elementary School, the latter due to road closures caused by landslides.

The affected schools shifted to Modular Distance Learning (MDL) for the day. Learners and parents were advised to coordinate with their respective class advisers and school heads regarding the distribution of learning materials and other instructions.

Authorities urged the public to monitor updates through the official communication channels of the DepEd Schools Division of Malaybalay City, the city government and other concerned agencies.