Floods kill 1, displace hundred families in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY –- One person was killed while more or less a hundred families were displaced as heavy and continuous rains brought about by the southwest monsoon pounded this city on Friday, causing massive flooding.The heavy downpour that flooded streets and low-lying areas came with strong winds that uprooted trees in a number of barangays or villages in this city.City Hall information officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the lone fatality, Dexter Basa, 50, was pinned to death when an uprooted tree crushed his truck in Barangay Maasin around 10 a.m. Friday.Covarrubias said that Basa’s truck was used for water delivery.Covarrubias said another incident of uprooted tree was reported in Purok 7, Barangay Pasonanca that totally crushed two houses made of light materials. Three house occupants were wounded during the incident.She said that initial reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) command center showed that flooding and/or evacuations were recorded in Barangays Putik, Pasonanca, Sinunuc, San Jose Gusu, San Roque, Calarian, Tugbungan and Talon-Talon.She said that more or less 20 families sought refuge in residences of their relatives 50 families evacuated to the San Jose Gusu Elementary School five families evacuated to the Putik Elementary School and 49 families evacuated to the Talon-Talon barangay hall as of 5 p.m. Friday.Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, CDRRMO head, said response teams with rubber boats and other equipment were deployed to areas reported to be under water to evacuate those affected to safer and higher grounds.Apolinario said chainsaws provided through the General Services Office were used to cut and remove obstructions caused by uprooted trees.Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has tasked City Health Officer Rodelin Agbulos and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas to provide medical assistance and packed meals as well as relief goods to the affected families.Salazar directed the CDRRMO to closely coordinate with other response teams from other agencies to ensure prompt assistance to those affected and ultimately ensure the protection and safety of lives and properties.The heavy downpour caused the increase of water level at the diversion dam of the Zamboanga City Water District in Barangay Pasonanca to as high as 75.74 meters, which is above the normal level of 74.20 meters.The increase in the dam level affected water service in some areas due to high turbidity and reduced water production at the old reservoir and non-operation of the Dumalon water system. Water trucks were dispatched to affected areas.The Philippine Coast Guard-Zamboanga station also suspended travel of all passenger and cargo vessels Friday morning due to the heavy rains but lifted the suspension effective 4 p.m. the same day weather and sea condition improved within the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu sea areas.Damage to crops and farm lands has yet to be determined by the City Agriculturist Office.Meanwhile, the CDRRMO reiterates its advice to people residing along riverbanks as well as coastal and low-lying areas to temporarily seek higher and safer grounds as the weather situation remains abnormal.Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) in coordination with the police are likewise tasked to continuously monitor the situation in their area of jurisdiction and to be the first responders in cases of emergencies. (PNA)LAP/TPGJR