40 families displaced by flood in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon led to a flash flood in two villages here, displacing 40 families in three villages.

Maria Socorro Rojas, city social welfare and development officer, said the families were temporarily evacuated to safer ground.

In Curuan, 36 families composed of 108 individuals in Sitio Basagan were evacuated as flood submerged their homes.

Curuan is some 50 kilometers from the city proper.

In Barangay Tagasilay, one house was swept away by the flash flood, says Abdul Rahsa, a villager.

In his Facebook post, Rahsa said the community members helped the affected family, rescuing children and salvaging their belongings.

Rojas said four families were relocated to higher ground in Tagasilay.

Barangay Tagasilay is about 60 kilometers from the city center.

Rojas assured the affected families of initial food assistance.

Elmeir Apolinario, the city disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the 2 p.m. flood alert showed that three villages were underwater — namely, Tagasilay, Vitali and Curuan.

“There’s a rockslide in the highway of Barangay Mangusu, landslide in Barangay Tigbalabag, but all roads are still passable,” Apolinario said.

/atm