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Monday, August 5, 2013

2 killed in landslide, 200 families displaced due to floods

By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Continuous rains and strong winds caused by monsoon rains and induced by a low pressure area over Central Mindanao triggered flooding in low lying areas and landslide that instantly killed two persons and displaced 200 families here.

Public Information Officer-City Mayor’s Office (PIO-CMO), Belen Covarrubias, said “the landslide in sitio Cumati in Limpapa that occurred about 6:30 a.m. Saturday  buried three houses that instantly killed six-year old Ayen Caluuyan and 14-year old Agustin Caluuyan.”

Covarrubias said another landslide occurred Sunday at 3:00 p.m., though no casualties were reported.

Mayor Beng Climaco mobilized government resources to assist the victims and personally spearheaded the conduct of relief operations for all the victims with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) personnel.

Covarrubias said member agencies of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) coordinated with each other for the conduct of the rescue operations in 8 barangays hard hit during the floods. “The barangays include Curuan, Tumaga, Tugbungan, Pasonanca, Guiwan, Sta. Maria and Tetuan among others.”

Covarrubias also disclosed that a management center was set up at the city hall to receive calamity –related reports and facilitate/dispatch response teams and direct conduct of relief operations.

“CDRRMC remains on alert as weather remains unpredictable,” Covarrubias said. (PIA9)