1 dead, 1 missing in latest Zamboanga del Norte floods

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - A woman was killed while another was missing after flash floods swept at least three houses and inundated four villages in a town of Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend, police said.

The latest fatality brought the death toll to rise to three  after two minors were also killed in a landslide in this city on Saturday.

More than a thousand residents were also affected in this southern port city when flood rose and submerged many areas in at least eight barangays and triggered landslides in three areas.

Police Regional Office 9 (PRO) reported that the flash flood hit the town of Gutalac,  affecting three barangays and sweeping three houses, mostly made of light materials, and farm animals at Barangays Cocob and Sibalic.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, PRO 9 spokesman, identified the fatality as Pulina Sumimba, 44, while the missing victim was Tasvia Salatan, 38, when they were swept by the flood in Barangay Sibalic last Friday afternoon.

The police said incessant rains triggered the flash flood Friday afternoon in Gutalac town.

Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC)  has listed 497 families or  1,374 individuals affected by the flood and weather-related incidents since Saturday affecting at least eight barangays.

Mayor Isabel Climaco-Salazar also ordered the cancellation of classes in at least two public schools due to the flooding while the other schools utilized as evacuation centers have to shift classes.

As this developed, the coast guard station here has lifted Monday the trip cancellation of all watercraft plying the Sulu Sea areas.

“Sea condition is already tolerable for travel,” said assistant coast guard station commander Senior Chief Petty Officer Winny Gandawali.