Flash floods hit 4 Zamboanga City villages

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Heavy rain spawned by a low-presure area off Mindanao inundated four villages in this city, leaving several residents homeless yesterday morning.

Responding search and rescue personnel of the city government said at least 243 families were affected in Barangay Talisayan alone.

Aside from Talisayan, flashfloods also hit the villages of Ayala, Labuan and Patalon, all located in the coastal area west of this city, according to Elmeir Apolinario, chief of the city disaster risk reduction and management office.

Floodwaters swept away at least five houses situated along the riverbank in Barangay Labuan.

Another house made of concrete caved in as floodwaters swelled a creek in the area.

No casualty was reported in the disaster as responding authorities managed to immediately evacuate the residents to higher ground.

Meanwhile, in Sulu, heavy rain also displaced at least 200 families living along the coastal and low-lying areas in Jolo.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said its personnel evacuated the residents after their houses were destroyed by floodwaters.

Heavy rain pounded Jolo shortly before midnight on Sunday, prompting the PCG to deploy rescue teams in the villages of Alat, Asturias, Chinese Pier, Hadji Butu, Serrantes, Takut-Takut and Tulay.

The PCG also assisted the crewmembers of a motorlaunch that ran aground in Basilan.

The M/L Denrussel left Jolo yesterday morning and encountered huge waves and strong water current in Maluso, causing it to run aground.