ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 4, 2013) – Flash floods brought about by days of continued rains have flooded many villagers in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga, authorities said Sunday.
Hundreds of residents were affected by the floods and villages were submerged under water, some as high as four feet, but there were no reports of casualties.
Coast guard and members of the Bureau of Fire Protection, including the police and civilian volunteers, have rescued many residents trapped in villages and brought them to safety.
Villagers displaced by flash floods were asking the local government for food and blankets as weather experts warned of more rains in the coming days due to low pressure area developing in the region.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, herself, also inspected areas devastated by floods and assured villagers of government aid.
The local government has no rubber boats to compliment its disaster response teams despite the recurring problems of flooding in many villages. And the government is dependent only on the military and police rescue units, including civilian volunteers.
Just recently, 2 children were killed after a landslide hit the village of Limpapa. Several houses were also destroyed in the landslide. (With reports from Ely Dumaboc and Dodong Ramos)
20