Storm surge destroys 57 houses in Zamboanga City on New Year’s EveBy:

Teofilo P. Garcia, Jr.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 1 (PNA) -- Fifty-seven houses were affected in a storm surge Wednesday, brought about by inclement weather, in a west coast barangay in this city, an official disclosed.

Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, said Thursday that 40 of the 57 were totally destroyed while the remaining 17 were partially damaged.

Apolinario said most of the affected houses were made of light materials that were built near the shore of Barangay Labuan, 36 kilometers west of this city.

Apolinario said there was no reported casualties, citing no one among the affected families were either killed or injured.

“We are happy (to) inform that there is no casualty,” Apolinario added.

However, he said they have yet to determine the exact number of affected families, citing that some of the affected houses were being occupied by more than one family.

He said that a joint team of his office and from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) “are now in the area” to assess the extent of damage and validate the number of affected families.

He said the CSWDO have brought food packs to provide relief assistance to the displaced families.

He said the affected families were either temporarily sheltered at the covered court of Barangay Labuan while some sought refuge with their families and at the elementary school.

This city experienced continuous downpour brought about by inclement weather condition Wednesday, prompting the local government through the CDRRMO to advise residents in staying near riverbanks, coastal and low-lying areas to take precautionary measures. (PNA)
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