2 children die in Zambo landslide caused by rains

MANILA, Philippines—Two children were killed in a landslide in Zamboanga City on Saturday as heavy rains battered the southern Philippines, bringing flooding to large areas.

The rains caused an avalanche that buried three houses, killing a 14-year-old boy and his 6-year old sister, said the mayor of the city, Isabel Climaco-Salazar.

Various parts of the city were flooded by rains that have battered the region for more than a week.

In some parts of Mindanao, classes have been suspended for more than a week due to the flooding with as many as 37,000 people evacuated, the civil defense office said.

The weather bureau on Saturday warned of possible flash floods and landslides over large portions of the Visayas and Mindanao due to a low-pressure area (LPA) spotted east of General Santos City.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, the LPA was observed some 250 kilometers east of General Santos City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The weather disturbance is expected to bring “moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms to the Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” Pagasa said in an advisory.

Pagasa warned residents in the affected areas to take all necessary precautionary measures.

In its weather outlook for Sunday, Pagasa said the regions of Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) will have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms.

The Zamboanga peninsula, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Western and Central Visayas and the Bicol region will continue to experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it said.

Twelve flights to and from Cagayan de Oro City were cancelled Saturday due to the bad weather.

The Manila International Airport Authority said two morning flights of Cebu Pacific, and one each of PAL Express and Zest Air were cancelled. Their return trips were also suspended.

The MIAA said Cebu Pacific earlier cancelled one flight to Ozamiz City and another to Cagayan de Oro but these flights resumed in the afternoon.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has warned fishermen and operators of small vessels against sailing, particularly in areas affected by low pressure area, due to rough sea conditions.

“Fishermen should exercise good judgment. The PCG reiterates its call to them, particularly those who are affected by the LPA, not to sail out to sea to avert possible situations such as the strong winds and big waves that could cause the capsizing of their boats,” said PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo.

He urged fishermen to check the gale warnings issued by Pagasa.

The PCG also advised sea travelers in affected areas to postpone their trips, especially if the LPA becomes a tropical cyclone.

According to Pagasa, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.”—AFP; DJ Yap; Jerome Aning; Tina G. Santos