Floods displace 130 families in Dipolog

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least 130 families have been evacuated in two villages in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte due to floods caused by incessant rain spawned by tropical depression "Auring," according to a local disaster official.

 

Director Adriano Fuego, regional chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), said two houses made of light materials built near the river bank in Roxas town, also in Zamboanga del Norte, were destroyed by floodwaters.

 

 “There was no reported casualty so far. The wind was slight and was not that strong," Fuego said.

 

He said the river in Barangay Torno swelled prompting the evacuation of 40 families.

 

Fuego said the affected residents were temporarily sheltered in Torno Elementary School.

 

At least 90 families have also been prepared for evacuation in Barangay San Jose.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had reported that "Auring" was in the vicinity of Dipolog City as of 10:00 a.m. Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometer per hour near the center.

 

Signal no. 1 was raised in Dipolog City and other areas in Mindanao, but was lifted by Thursday afternoon after the storm moved closer to Luzon, particularly near Palawan.