Flood displaces 150 families

HEAVY rains spawned by a low pressure area triggered floods on Tuesday in Barangay Ayala, west of Zamboanga City, washing away two houses and displacing 150 families living near river banks.

The situation was also worsened by the high tide but luckily no casualties were reported, said Mayor Celso Lobregat.

The mayor said that on Wednesday, emergency response came instantly thanks to the well-organized Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils both in the village and city levels.

"We were able to immediately respond, that's why there is no casualty," said Lobregat, who rushed to the area after being informed of the incident.

Lobregat has mobilized local government resources to respond to the needs of the affected families.

He also personally distributed foodstuff and other relief goods to the flood victims, together with City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo and staff.

City Health Office personnel were also brought in to check on the health condition of the over 449 affected individuals specifically the children.

Volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga chapter and personnel from the City Police Office and other concerned agencies also responded to the incident.

The orderly evacuation, initiated by the Barangay Risk Reduction and Management and led by Ayala barangay chairman Diosterides Librero, started around 5 p.m. Tuesday when the river started to swell, putting low-lying areas, including sitios San Miguel, Fatima, Sto. Niño and Ledesma, under water.

The flooding, which reached knee-deep, quickly receded and the families affected returned to their dwellings around 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Barredo said social welfare officers are currently finalizing assessment of the victims in preparation for additional assistance specifically to those whose houses were damaged by the floods.