Classes remain suspended in Zamboanga City due to bad weather

Classes will remain suspended in Zamboanga City Wednesday as the city remained flooded, with the possibility of continued bad weather, the city government announced. due to bad weather, the city government announced. Classes will remain suspended in Zamboanga City Wednesday In a public advisory, the city government also said work in the city will only resume if the weather improves. Heavy rain and floods swamped the city Tuesday, forcing the suspension of operations at the Zamboanga City International Airport. At least three residents were reported killed, while those who resided along riverbanks or low-lying areas were advised to seek higher ground. The city government said the rain and floods had affected 2,869 families or 8,848 people in 22 villages as of Tuesday noon. Destroyed were 640 hectares of riceland, 1,243 hectares of corn, 200 hectares of vegetables, 2,000 hectares of fishponds, and 900 hectares of seaweed. Zamboanga City's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended that the city council declarae a state of calamity and that calamity funds be released. It noted several riprap, hanging bridges and other infrastructures were damaged by the flash floods. Also, two landslides were reported in Lansones and Malagutay areas but there were no casualties. The city's police force temporarily shifted from clearing operations against the Moro National Liberation Front to rescue operations to help residents affected by floods, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported. Police clearing operations had been suspended a few days earlier due to the ill weather. — DVM, GMA News