200 families evacuated, classes suspended as floods hit Zamboanga City

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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Flooding forced 200 families in one village here to flee to higher ground and classes to be suspended in other areas following continuous rain since Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Chief Inspector Joey Tutuh, chief of the Vitali District Police, Barangay (village) Vitali, said evacuees were brought to the Catholic church.

In some areas, the floodwater reached the roofs of houses, he added.

Tutuh said even their police station was flooded.

Mayor Celso Lobregat had also ordered the suspension of classes in 12 affected barangays.

Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, police chief for Western Mindanao, said strong waves sent adrift a cargo barge owned by Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali and caused it to hit at least 15 houses along the mini-wharf in Barangay Mariki early Monday morning.

No one was reported hurt in the incident but around 30 families were rendered homeless, Estilles said.