THE Zamboanga City Council, in a special session on Thursday, has approved a resolution declaring the city under the state of calamity due to inclement weather since Sunday triggering flashfloods and storm surges in several areas.
Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde said the resolution was approved following recommendation by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Office (CDRRMO).
City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has mobilized the resources of the City Government to provide assistance to the thousands of affected families by.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported that 3,666 families (18,330 individuals) were displaced by storm surge and flashflood that inundated 17 of the 98 villages of the city.
The CSWDO said that 158 houses were destroyed and 327 were damaged.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said that seven people have already perished.
Apolinario said four of the seven have drowned, one electrocuted, and two died when a fig (balete) tree crashed on a semi-concrete house.
Some P15 million to P20 million infrastructures consisting of slope protection, shoreline protection and bridges have been destroyed while P45.7 million worth of crops and fisheries as well as poultry and livestock were damaged.