Floods hit conflict-stricken Zambo; thousands affected in Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Still recovering from the devastation caused by a deadly three-week standoff between government troops and rebels, several villages in Zamboanga City are now flooded due to the rains spawned by the Intertropical Convergent Zone (ITCZ), which has affected over 90,000 people in Visayas and Mindanao.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions have been experiencing moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms that caused floods and landslides since October 4.

The NDRRMC said as of October 7, a total of 18,828 families or 92,658 people have been affected, including 2,944 residents of Zamboanga City.

In a recent statement, Zamboanga City mayor Beng Climaco said at least 10 barangays have been affected by the floods.

"Slowly, Zamboanga City is getting back to normalcy, but the incessant rains that hit the city since Friday has inundated low lying areas causing another evacuation in at least 10 barangays," Climaco said.

She said the city's crisis management committee met last Saturday and various issues were discussed to include the relocation of evacuees to safer grounds due to flooding.

The Zamboanga City government announced on Twitter that rescue teams have been dispatched to flooded areas before dawn Tuesday.

Due to the flooding, Climaco has suspended classes in all levels in both private and public schools and work in all local and national government offices in the City.

PUBLIC ADVISORY: Mayor Climaco orders suspension of classes in all levels (public private) in the City today, due to flooding.

— zambocitygovt (@zambocitygovt) October 7, 2013

(As of 7am): Mayor Climaco calls off work in all govt offices (local & nat'l) in the City today, except those providing front line services

— zambocitygovt (@zambocitygovt) October 7, 2013

2 drown, houses damaged in Visayas, Mindanao

The NDRRMC said two people were killed due to the flooding in Western Visayas. A five-year-old girl was swept away by flashflood while crossing the Pabella creek in Valderrama, Antique last Friday.

Another person also drowned while crossing the Sabanag River in Bugasong, Antique.

The NDRRMC has monitored flashfloods in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental; Bayawan City, Siaton, Basay and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental; Zamboanga City, Siocon, Sirawai in Zamboanga del Norte, and Malaybalay City in Bukidnon.

The agency also said at least 57 houses were damaged in the regions affected by the rains and flooding.

Potential cyclone spotted, ITCZ still to bring rains

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said a low pressure area was spotted at 1,000 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

PAGASA said the ITCZ also continues to affect Visayas and Mindanao, which will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorm mostly in the afternoon or evening.