State of calamity declared in Zamboanga City due to Typhoon Paolo

Zamboanga City was placed under a state of calamity after 17 barangays were submerged in flood after days of heavy rain caused by Typhoon Paolo, Mariz Umali reported on 24 Oras on Thursday.

"Upon the request of the mayor, we just declared the City of Zamboanga under a state of calamity," Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde confirmed.

Damage to infrastructure reached P12 million and hectares of agricultural fields and fish ponds were ravaged by rain that forced at least 3,066 families to leave their homes.

In addition to damaging more than 150 homes, the rain and its after-effects also took seven lives and injured others.

The Office of Civil Defense Region IX said Zamboanga City was the most affected area of the region.

"Ang Zamboanga City ang pinakaapektadong area sa Region IX tapos yung Siocon municipality. Meron ding report sa Sibucu, tapos ang Liloy," OCD Region IX operation officer Eric Castillo said.

Cotabato also endured flooding, which caused a van to fall partway into a creek in Naval, Biliran.

The threat of towering waves caused seaside residents of General Santos City, Valencia, and Negros Oriental to seek higher ground.

Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat was rendered powerless after strong winds knocked electric posts over and flipped an ambulance on the way to a hospital over in Upi, Maguindanao.

Weather bureau PAGASA explained that Typhoon Paolo's wide rainbands caused heavy rains in many areas of the country despite the distance of its center from much of the country.

Paolo was last spotted 930 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News