Typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit the Northeastern Mindanao region destroying everything in its path and left a trail of devastation behind. Over 453 people have been found dead, hundreds are still missing and more than 20,000 people have been displaced and have found refuge in make-shift shelters in evacuation centres.
Surrounded by mountains, Cagayan de Oro is not normally prone to typhoons and residents have felt safe. However, the torrential rains caused the sudden rise of the Cagayan de Oro river resulted to flash flooding at around 2.30 in the morning when most people were asleep. In addition to the deluge of rain and rising waters are the mudslides.
The torrents washed out towns of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon and Davao. Most affected were the areas of Barangays Puntod, Macabalan, Lapasan, villages within the downtown area, and Vamenta Subdivision in Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental, as well as Isla de Oro, Cala-Cala and Barangays Consolacion, Macasandig, Kauswagan, Carmen, Canitoan, Iponan, and Balulang.
Towns are still without water and electricity and emergency relief centres have been set for the flood victims. The military have also been called in to assist in the clean up
The Philippines lies in the typhoon belt and usually survives six to ten typhoons a year.
