7 of 10 SINKING & TILTING; Philippines: Flooding in several parts of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental! Flood aggravated by high tide! The floods reached as deep as 10 feet in some areas!

/ Floods hit Zambo del Norte, Misamis. Non-stop rains on Thursday caused flooding in several parts of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental. In Misamis Occidental, neck-deep waters also submerged several barangays in the towns of Tudela and Clarin, destroying at least 4 houses. /

/ Thirteen of the 50 villages in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte province have been ravaged by floods wrought by 12 hours of non-stop rains. The affected villages are Sulangon, Diwa-an, Tamion, Oyan, Burgos, Ilaya, Barcelona, Opao, Ba-ao, Pontungan, Dampalan, Masidlakon and Polo. The flooding was worsened when rivers in nearby towns swelled and overflowed. “The water level didn't recede, affected families fear that things will worsen because it will going to be high tide again at midnight,” she added. Flooding has affected 36 houses and damaged 120 others in one municipality, two cities, and 12 barangays in Zamboanga del Norte.

Agolong said the roads are not passable anymore, citing in some areas, the water is neck-deep, while some areas are submerged in eight-foot high water. /

/ Ten hours of continuous heavy rains starting Thursday evening flooded several areas in Misamis Occidental, including this city, on Friday, but no casualties have been reported, officials said. Residents fled to higher ground as floodwaters, aggravated by high tide, swamped their homes. “So many houses were destroyed, some were washed out to sea. We are still conducting our assessment,” Dagpin said. /

/ Thousands flee homes as flooding hits Dapitan. Thousands of residents in Dapitan City have been evacuated to higher and safer grounds after heavy rains since Wednesday night flooded at least 12 villages. The floods reached as deep as 10 feet in some areas. “There was no typhoon, just heavy rain,” Agolong told the Inquirer by phone. “This is the first time that this happened,” she said. /

Zambo del Norte villages submerged in floods. Dapitan City and other parts of Zamboanga del Norte were submerged in floods after the Polanco river overflowed following 6 hours of non-stop rains. Residents are already using small boats to leave their homes. The floods in some areas rose to neck-deep levels. The local government estimates about 3,000 houses are affected by the floods. Source

/ "No end in sight" to the flood crisis in St George! "Almost 75 per cent of houses in Mitchell are flooded," /

/ 7,000 people are isolated by floodwaters in northern NSW. Some 7,000 people are isolated by floodwaters in northern NSW, but the figure is expected to surpass 10,000 with a massive body of water heading south. Flooding has also hit the state's south with State Emergency Services (SES) deluged with 450 calls for assistance after parts of western Sydney and the Illawarra experienced flash flooding caused by heavy rain on Thursday night. /

The Balonne River continued to rise today, reaching a record 13.95 metres, defying earlier predictions it would peak on Tuesday.

Around 2500 residents have been evacuated from the town, which is being protected by a hastily built earthen levee.

"(These are) very tough circumstances in St George, very grim times for this little town," she said in Townsville.

"Third time in two years, hundreds of people out of their homes and no end in sight."

"I should say that if part or all of the weir failed, it wouldn't so much affect the town, but it would see a very big flood surge go down to the properties south of the town," she said.

Ms Bligh said the floods had knocked the local sewerage system out of action, meaning evacuees would not be able to return until the system had been repaired.

"We cannot get people back into town until that water drops and we get the sewerage system operational again."

Balonne Shire Council Mayor Donna Stewart said the waiting game continued today for residents waiting in the town and those who left on Sunday night.

Cr Stewart played down fears of a sudden surge after concrete wings at the Moolabah Weir, just to the north of the town, lifted and moved overnight.

"I would stress Moolabah Weir is a very minor weir that runs in to the irrigation supply channels and any impact on the town would be negligible," she said.

She said a meeting today would help authorities determine when residents who left could return.

"The river continues to rise and we aren't able to make a decision until the river does start to fall," she said.

"I want them to know my heart is with them and I understand how they are feeling.

"As soon as we have more information we will let them know when they can return."

She said sewerage systems had been affected in parts of St George, which had been inundated by floodwater, affecting around 25 per cent of properties.

The sewerage system stalled in low-lying parts of town when water reached around the 13.4m mark.

"The pipes and the tanks in that part of town are all inundated but there's nothing wrong with sewerage in other parts of town."

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported that authorities are pleading with about 2500 flood-hit St George flood evacuees to be patient as they try to return to their southwestern town.

Residents and emergency services breathed a sigh of relief last night as the swollen Balonne River rose close to the top of St George's levee before slowing.

It was expected to peak around 14m, just 0.5m under the cotton town's levee but hydrologists warned that major flood levels would persist probably right through the weekend.

Dirranbandi and Hebel downstream appear to be safe. A flood peak of 5.4m is expected to reach Dirranbandi tomorrow or Friday, just below its 5.5m levee.

With most of the town evacuated to Dalby, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, St George was quiet. Those left were tired but smiling and anxious to have family home.

A police spokesman said people could return after water and power supplies and the sewerage system were checked and roads opened.

"That's because there's a huge volume to get through from the Maranoa and Balonne so river falls will be barely noticeable for the next 24 hours," he said.

Kate Lergessner, of the Talwood Hotel southeast of St George on the Barwon Highway, said they had been cut off from St George for nearly a week.

Talwood is on the flooded Weir River but they managed to take a handful of family members from St George.

"I couldn't say when the roads will re-open. We're just lucky we can get (east) to Goondiwindi," Ms Lergessner said.

In Mitchell, a heart-breaking clean-up was under way, with resident Merryl Thorne going through personal items after most of her belongings were destroyed.

Ms Thorne said her house had not yet been cleaned of mud and its walls would have to be replaced.

She and nine family members were staying at a daughter's three-bedroom house near town.

Ms Thorne said Mitchell residents were boosted yesterday when Roma and Mungallala residents arrived to help clean up.

More than 170 firefighters are spread between flood-hit Roma, Miles, Charleville, St George and Mitchell to help out.

Maranoa Mayor Rob Loughnan said the final toll appeared to be 290 houses flooded in Roma and 288 in Mitchell.

"Almost 75 per cent of houses in Mitchell are flooded," Cr Loughnan said. "The clean-up is hampered because the (Warrego Highway) bridge is shaky and we can't get heavy equipment across.

"I've asked the Premier if she can help to get the army to fly in some heavy gear."

Thousands still isolated by floods in NSW

Some 7,000 people are isolated by floodwaters in northern NSW, but the figure is expected to surpass 10,000 with a massive body of water heading south.

Flooding has also hit the state's south with State Emergency Services (SES) deluged with 450 calls for assistance after parts of western Sydney and the Illawarra experienced flash flooding caused by heavy rain on Thursday night.

All up the SES said it had received more than 7000 flood-related calls for help across the state.

"We've got an area nearly the size of England and Ireland being impacted by flood in the north," State Emergency Services (SES) Assistant Commissioner Murray Kear told reporters.

"Down in the south, many rivers are on a flood watch and now, as we've seen, the Sydney metropolitan area and surrounds are also experiencing the impact of these weather events."

The SES said the massive body of water moving from the north of the state was expected to continue for two months, isolating towns and communities along its path.

Towns isolated by the floodwaters could remain cut off for up to six weeks.

Goodooga, Mungindi and Lightning Ridge were currently bearing the brunt of the south-moving floodwaters, which are expected to reach the town of Menindee near Broken Hill between late March and early April.

"It really is quite a significant protracted event of an extremely large body of water moving across the state," Mr Kear told reporters on Friday.

But relief may be in sight for flood-sodden towns.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Barry Hanstrum said the rain was likely to ease in the next 48 hours after deluging the state over the past few weeks.

"Indications are that there will be an improving trend in the weather as get toward the end of the weekend," he said.

The south coast of NSW will have to brave one more night of rainfall with 50 to 100 millimetres predicted in isolated spots overnight.

"The weather pattern that has caused the heavy rain in the last 24 hours is persisting and is likely to result in some heavy falls particularly in the southeast parts of the state," Mr Hanstrum said.

The State Emergency Management Committee, which includes representatives from all NSW emergency services, held an emergency meeting with flood relief agencies in Sydney on Friday to discuss plans to prepare towns across NSW for the predicted floodwaters moving south.

"(The committee) is planning as to how we can best deal, or best help people to cope with this emergency," Assistant Police Commissioner, Mark Murdoch said.

"A lot of communities will be isolated, some communities will need to be evacuated.

"It is a significant welfare issue, emotionally and physically, for those people.

"This is a big deal for New South Wales."

Flooding in Sydney's West, Illawarra

THE NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has had a busy night after huge rainfalls had parts of western Sydney and the Illawarra flooding.

SES spokesman Dave Owens said the suburb of Londonderry, near Penrith, received about 104mm of rain in a short few hours overnight.

"In Londonderry there were eight properties that were inundated and the SES provided emergency transport for 19 people," Mr Owens said. "There were also 38 people who self-evacuated.

"We're waiting for daybreak to come and we can make an assessment on the properties that were inundated and make sure it's safe for the residents to return and start their clean-up.

"The water has abated now."

The rain also hit the Illawarra region, on the state's south coast.

"There was 60 requests for assistance there," Mr Owens said. "A suburb called Balgownie received 96mm of rain.

"Between Penrith and Illawarra, there were 20 flood rescues.'

Meanwhile, about 5000 people continue to be isolated in the northwest of the state, including the towns of Mungindi, Collarenebri and Wee Waa.

The NSW northwest towns of Lightening Ridge, Walgett and Goodooga will be isolated within days, stranding about 6000 people, the SES says.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/floods-hit-western-s...

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Residents evacuated as floods hit western Sydney, Illawarra

UP to 20 people have been rescued and many more fled their homes as a massive storm swept across western Sydney and the Illawarra, resulting in treacherous flash flooding.

It has left another 3000 people now cut off by floodwaters across NSW, pushing the total over the past week towards 9.000.

"We've had an increase in the number of homes and farms that have been isolated," said State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman Phil Campbell.

SES workers toiled throughout the night after rain hammered low-lying pockets of Sydney.

About 150 racing greyhounds were rescued from a stud farm at Londonderry, near Penrith, along with some goats from another property.

Another 40 greyhounds may need rescuing from a semi-rural area of western Sydney today, Mr Campbell said.

"We're thinking of going into the greyhound business," he told AAP.

Londonderry was hammered by 104mm of rain in a few hours overnight.

Eight homes were inundated with floodwaters and 19 people needed rescuing. Another 38 self-evacuated.

The SES received 288 calls for help and volunteers spent the night sandbagging as well as responding to emergency calls reporting leaking roofs and fallen trees.

"Most of them are from western Sydney," Mr Campbell said.

"The water rose quiet quickly."

The rain also hit the Illawarra region, on the state's south coast, where there were about 20 rescues.

"There was 60 requests for assistance there," said SES spokesman Dave Owens.

"A suburb called Balgownie received 96 mm of rain."

Mr Campbell said the SES had been closely watching the south coast and southern highlands, although weather conditions appeared to have eased.

"The worst is possibly over down there," he said.

Meanwhile, there are now 8700 people isolated across NSW - the figure was 6000 yesterday.

These include the northwest towns of Lightning Ridge and Goodooga as well as Mungindi, Collarenebri and Wee Waa.

But Mr Campbell said there was a chance the flood waters could recede in Wee Waa.

"We hope to have good news on that today and access will be restored," he said.

"It's been two weeks now that Wee Waa has been cut off."

A severe weather warning is still in place for the metropolitan, south coast, Illawarra and Snowy Mountains.

"Showers, rain and thunderstorms which may lead to flash flooding," said the Bureau of Meteorology.

"A low pressure system is expected to develop near the south coast on Saturday."

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Thirteen of the 50 villages in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte province have been ravaged by floods wrought by 12 hours of non-stop rains.

The affected villages are Sulangon, Diwa-an, Tamion, Oyan, Burgos, Ilaya, Barcelona, Opao, Ba-ao, Pontungan, Dampalan, Masidlakon and Polo.

Polo is the least affected among the 13 submerged villages, City Councilor Apple Marie Agolong said.

She said the flood was spawned by “unusual rain last night (Wednesday) until around 10 a.m. Thursday.”

The flooding was worsened when rivers in nearby towns swelled and overflowed.

“The water level didn't recede, affected families fear that things will worsen because it will going to be high tide again at midnight,” she added.

Agolong said the roads are not passable anymore, citing in some areas, the water is neck-deep, while some areas are submerged in eight-foot high water.

“Only big trucks, speedboats and jet skis serve as modes of transportation to rescue victims and bring relief goods,” Agolong said.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said 55 families have sought shelter in an evacuation center in the city.

Flooding has affected 36 houses and damaged 120 others in one municipality, two cities, and 12 barangays in Zamboanga del Norte.

Agolong said they could yet determine whether there are casualties but said thousands of residents are affected with no food, water to drink and shelter. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)

Floods swamp Ozamiz City, other towns

OZAMIZ CITY, Philippines—Ten hours of continuous heavy rains starting Thursday evening flooded several areas in Misamis Occidental, including this city, on Friday, but no casualties have been reported, officials said.

Residents fled to higher ground as floodwaters, aggravated by high tide, swamped their homes.

Mayor Estela Obut of the town of Tudela said 241 families were rescued from up to neck-deep waters that submerged 11 of the town’s 33 barangays.

“No one was reported hurt as we were able to respond to rescue needs in time,” she said.

Obut said the Paca River overflowed and flooded low-lying areas of the municipality. She said several areas in the neighboring municipality of Clarin were also inundated.

“Initial disaster survey showed that 16 houses had been damaged,” she said.

Obut said that as of noon Friday, at least three villages remained isolated from the town center because of the deep water.

Only those with boats, she said, had access to the villages of Yahong, Luksoon and Silongon.

In Ozamiz City, Mayor Nova Princess Echavez ordered the suspension of classes at the elementary and high school levels due to the floods.

Minor landslides in the village of Bitibot in the municipality of Sapang Dalaga blocked half of the national highway, constraining the flow of traffic, according to reports from other officials.

Meanwhile, in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte, floods as deep as eight feet in many areas had receded by Friday, according to Alemario Dagpin, secretary to the mayor.

Councilor Apple Agolong said displaced residents from the city’s 12 flooded districts were returning home.

“So many houses were destroyed, some were washed out to sea. We are still conducting our assessment,” Dagpin said.

Adriano Fuego, director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Western Mindanao, reported that 13,052 individuals were directly affected by the Dapitan flooding.

A bridge had also collapsed, he said.

Maribel Enriquez of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration office in Zamboanga City said the floods that hit Misamis Occidental and Dapitan were caused by a cold front and the northeast monsoon.

Enriquez said rains were also expected in other Mindanao areas.

“We are also monitoring a low pressure area in Southern Mindanao coupled with the tail of the cold front,” she said.

Thousands flee homes as flooding hits Dapitan

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Thousands of residents in Dapitan City have been evacuated to higher and safer grounds after heavy rains since Wednesday night flooded at least 12 villages.

Alemario Dagpin, secretary of Mayor Dominador Jalosjos, said that of the 12 villages, hardest hit was Barangay Ilaya where floodwaters had reached the roofs of houses.

But Dagpin said no one was reported hurt or killed as residents were able to evacuate before the floods swallowed their communities.

The floods reached as deep as 10 feet in some areas.

In Ilaya, at least 4,000 people were moved to schools and churches. In the village of Uyan, the evacuees evacuated to the national highway because the schools and village hall were also under water.

Also flooded were Barangays Crusher, Barcelona, Burgos, Silangon, Tamion, Diwaan, Maria Uray, Upao, Polo and Bitoon.

Councilor Apple Agolong said military and police trucks continue to ferry residents out of the flooded villages.

“There was no typhoon, just heavy rain,” Agolong told the Inquirer by phone. “This is the first time that this happened,” she said.

Agolong said some residents had evacuated to higher grounds while some were still being rescued as of 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Agolong added that the city social welfare office has also distributed relief goods to the displaced residents.

Floods hit Zambo del Norte, Misamis

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Non-stop rains on Thursday caused flooding in several parts of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Six hours of continuous rains caused floods in 9 barangays in Dapitan City, namely: Polo, Sulangon, Oyan, Ilaya, Bito-on, Diwa-an, Burgos, Barcelona and Opao.

The flooding was triggered after the Polanco River overflowed, affecting about 3,000 families.

Neck-deep waters forced residents to seek evacuation in Sulangon Elementary School, which was also flooded.

Floodwaters started to subside around 9 p.m., but some residents chose to spend the night in the evacuation centers.

In Misamis Occidental, neck-deep waters also submerged several barangays in the towns of Tudela and Clarin, destroying at least 4 houses.

Tudela officials are set to meet today to decide whether to declare a state of calamity in the town. – report from Dynah Diestro, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga

7 of 10 SINKING & TILTING; Philippines: Flooding in several parts of Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental! Flood aggravated by high tide! The floods reached as deep as 10 feet in some areas!

'No end in sight' to flood crisis in St George says Anna Bligh

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