Flash flood, landslide hit Zambo City; more than 60 families evacuated

At least 63 families were evacuated from their homes as a landslide and flash floods hit at least two villages in Zamboanga City Sunday, the Philippine Red Cross said.

The Red Cross cited initial information indicating the landslide occurred at Barangay Divisoria while the floods hit Barangay Tumbungan.

No one was initially reported injured in the two incidents, the Red Cross said in a post on its Facebook account.

According to the Red Cross, the "pocket landslide" hit Barangay Divisoria at about 2 p.m., destroying two houses and forcing the evacuation of three families.

The affected families were brought to the Divisoria Elementary School.

Meanwhile, at 4 p.m., a flash flood hit Tumbungan village, prompting the evacuation of 60 families to the Barangay Tumbungan Elementary School.

"The cause of [the] flash flood was due to overflow of Zamboanga Water District Dam," it said.

It said the dam's normal water level was 74.20 meters, but the current water level was at 75.09 meters, prompting the district dam management to open one gate.

Representatives from other agencies at the site included those from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, village officials, and local government units.

The Red Cross said its chapter there deployed one ambulance, blood pick-up and blood mobile with 30 personnel including three staff and 27 volunteers. — BM, GMA News