A house in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, completely collapsed after heavy rain on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24, forcing a family of four to temporarily leave their home.
The incident happened past 2 p.m. in Sitio Canaas, where the house owned by Julious Cabahug was damaged after part of its footing suddenly gave way. One of the posts supporting the structure also collapsed, bringing down the light-material house.
Cabahug was inside the house when the collapse occurred and suffered scratches on his foot. His two children escaped unharmed.
The family was brought to the Guadalupe gym for temporary shelter while local authorities assessed their condition and determined what assistance they may need. Barangay officials were also present at the evacuation site.
The collapse completely destroyed the house, while two neighboring houses located below the property were also affected, according to the initial incident report.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, said the city’s disaster response personnel assisted the affected family. Direct assistance had not yet been released as of Thursday afternoon because the Department of Social Welfare and Services still needed to complete its assessment.
The incident occurred after a heavy downpour that began around noon, as Cebu continued to experience intermittent rain associated with localized thunderstorms.
Weather specialist Mark Gales of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said localized thunderstorms and occasional rain showers could continue across Cebu through September, particularly from late morning to afternoon. The southwest monsoon, or habagat, is also still affecting the country.
The collapse highlights the risks faced by homes located on or near slopes and areas vulnerable to heavy rainfall, particularly when prolonged or intense downpours weaken foundations and surrounding soil.
For the Cabahug family, the immediate priority is finding temporary shelter and assessing the damage, while city authorities determine what assistance can be provided as rainy conditions continue across Cebu.
