ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/03 August) – Two children died while three houses were destroyed Saturday in a landslide spawned by continuous rainfall in Sitio Cumati, Barangay Limpapa here.
The continuous rainfall was brought by a low pressure area (LPA) embedded along the intertropical convergence zone, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Insp. Chester Natividad, police Station 10 commander, identified the fatalities as Agustin Kaluuyan, 14, and his younger sister, Ayen, six, who were trapped in their house when the landslide occurred at around 7:30 a.m.
He said the rest of the occupants of the destroyed houses were able to escape.
Natividad said the remains of the two children, who died of multiple injuries, were unearthed at around 10:15 a.m. amidst the rocks and soil that eroded due to the continuous rains.
Meanwhile, at least 64 families were affected by a flashflood Friday night in Sitio Barigon, Barangay Tugbungan.
Evelyn Las Marias, officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said the flashflood hit Sitio Barigon after the Tumaga and Tugbungan rivers overflowed due to continuous rains.
Las Marias said the affected families sought temporarily shelter at the Tugbungan Elementary School but they eventually returned home when the water subsided.
Flashfloods, spawned by continuous rains, also hit Sitio Manga, Barangay Bolong on Thursday night, destroying 11 houses made of light materials.
Several houses were also submerged in Barangays Bunguiao and Lubigan but there were no reported destruction.
Las Marias said the residents resumed their normal daily chores after the flood subsided.
The city government has mobilized the personnel of the CSWDO to render assistance to the affected families. (MindaNews)
