Almost 10,000 affected in Zamboanga del Norte flooding: NDRRMC

MANILA -- Almost 10,000 people in Zamboanga del Norte were affected by flood due to continuous rains, the state disaster agency reported Friday.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said no casualty was reported but floods affected 1,855 families or 9,465 people and 422 hectares of agricultural lands.

NDRRMC said affected were Dipolog City in the villages of San Jose, Olingan, Biwan, Lugdungan, Punta, Dicayas, Gulayon, and Turno; Polanco town in Barangays Pian, Poblacion South, Labrador, Guinies, Obay, Anastacio, Villahermosa, Lingasad, and Poblacion North; and Barangay Basagan in Katipunan town.

Local disaster response authorities are attending to the affected families.

At least 32 people from Barangay San Antonio in Katipunan town were rescued, the NDRRMC said.

Continuous rain on Thursday caused rivers in the Polanco National Highway's Guilles section to overflow at almost one meter, NDRRMC added.

The water level at Rizal town reached half-a-meter while the river at San Jose in Dipolog City reached critical level, it said.

The disaster agency added that Barangays Sto. Niño, Basagan, Mulagas and Lugdungan in Katipunan town were also affected by waist-deep flood.

It said the affected families in Barangay Dicayas were evacuated to the barangay hall, while other families were brought to nearby schools and higher grounds. (PNA/Sunnex)