ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan 13 (PIA) -- The bad weather condition brought about by the Low-Pressure Area (LPA) and Shear line in Zamboanga Peninsula from January 11-12, 2023 caused flooding in so many areas which have affected thousands of individuals and the cancellation of classes, work, flights, and voyages in the region. 

In Zamboanga del Norte, 10 municipalities and two cities were affected in the province consisting of 71 barangays. In Zamboanga Sibugay, four municipalities with 9 barangays were affected while in Zamboanga del Sur, one municipality with two barangays were also affected. Furthermore, a total of 30 barangays in Zamboanga City, and 15 barangays in Isabela City, Basilan were heavily affected. Most of the communities experienced flooding.

Two (2) bridges were reportedly damaged: one in Brgy. Labuan, Zamboanga City, and the other in Pangian, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. Both are not passable to all types of vehicles as of reporting time. Fives roads are affected by landslides and are also not passable to all types of vehicles.

The Municipalities of Salug, Sibuco, Siocon, Sirawai, Katipunan, Liloy, Manuel A. Roxas, Tampilisan, Baliguian, Labason, Jose Dalman, Gutalac, Manukan, and the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog of Zamboanga del Norte; the whole province of Zamboanga Sibugay; Zamboanga City and Isabela City declared suspension of classes in all levels. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Siocon, Katipunan, Dapitan City, and Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City declared suspension of work.

The Municipality of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province has declared a State of Calamity but no executive order was provided yet.

The Municipality of Siocon, Sirawai, Sibuco, Manuel A. Roxas, Manukan, Dapitan City and Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga City reportedly experienced power interruption.

The CAAP-Dipolog City reported the cancellation of the Cebu Pacific flight which has 78 affected passengers. Zamboanga City airports also canceled 11 flights on Wednesday, January 11, and resumed their operations around 05:00 AM on January 12, 2023.

Seaports of Dapitan City, Dipolog City, and Manuel A. Roxas of Zamboanga del Norte as well as the Zamboanga City seaport canceled their trips on January 11, 2023. Sixty-six (66) passengers bound for Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi were stranded in the Zamboanga City pier but had already left after normal operations resumed.

Meanwhile, a total of 11,494 families consisting of 66,734 persons were reportedly affected by the flooding in the region. There are 48 evacuation centers activated and used. 10,388 affected families are housed inside evacuation centers and 48 families are outside evacuation.

Two confirmed deaths are monitored in Zamboanga City and two more deaths are for verification from Dipolog City and Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte. Three injured individuals were monitored.

The Regional Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC)-IX member agencies held an emergency virtual meeting to discuss the initial response to the LPA. The Quick Response Team (QRT) members are deployed to assist in the assessment and validation of affected families in different localities in the region. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSDWD)-IX is on the move, continually producing and repacking goods, and distributing Family Food Packs (FFPs) and hygiene kits for affected families in evacuation centers. (/NBECCP/PIA9 with reports from Office of Civil Defense Region-IX)