4 Zamboanga del Norte towns under state of calamity after ‘Vinta’

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Four towns in Zamboanga del Norte had declared state of calamity due to heavy damages brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Vinta, an official said Tuesday.

Praxides Rubia, the Zamboanga del Norte information chief, said the local governments of Siocon, Gutalac, Salug and Labason had declared state of calamity after coming up with damage assessment reports last December 25.

“The towns of Sibuco, Baliguian, Sirawai, Liloy and the rest are still conducting damage assessment report. As soon as they completed the assessment, we will submit all the towns’ reports to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Manager. We will call for a session in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and there, we will officially declare the entire province under state of calamity. So far, only four towns had declared state of calamity,” Rubia said.

Zamboanga del Norte had 72 deaths from the floods spawned by the storm.

Rubia said most of the deaths were reported in Gutalac town. /je