ZAMBOANGA CITY — One person died while thousands of families were displaced as flashfloods inundated 10 villages in this city due to inclement weather condition.
The flashflood was triggered by hours of continuous heavy rains starting Sunday dawn. The displaced families have remained in evacuation centers set up in schools and barangay centers as intermittent rains continue until Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on Monday that Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao continue to experience scattered light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains which may cause flood, landslide, strong winds and lightnings brought about by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
On Sunday, October 15, the ITCZ caused cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan.
Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, on Monday said that 2,206 families consisting of 11,221 individuals have been displaced by flash flood triggered by storm surge and swelling of rivers.
Apolinario said the lone fatality was Sonny Tadiari Panglima, 65, a is a Muslim preacher (Imam), who drowned as his house was swept by big waves while trying to save the family’s belongings.
Panglima’s house, which was made of light materials, stood at the shore of Barangay Labuan.
The affected families are from the following barangays: Vitali, 1,200; Manguso, 151; Labuan, 496; Maasin, 17; Patalon, 35; Limpapa, 62; Sinunuc, 51; Ayala, 108; Talisayan, 50; Campo Islam, 36.
Apolinario said the city government has mobilized its resources to provide relief goods such as food packs, blankets and kitchen utensils. The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) led the distribution of relief goods.
He said they have also established community kitchen to cater to the food needs of the displaced families while they are housed at the evacuation centers. (TPGJR/PNA)
