10 houses destroyed, 2 of which buried in sand in Zambales town

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Two homes in the Zambales town of San Marcelino were buried in sand and sediment after days of strong currents in the Sta. Fe River.

In a telephone interview on Thursday (Aug. 20), Arsenio Edar Mauricio III, head of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said a residential compound on the northern side of the river in Barangay Sta. Fe became a catch basin for the strong river current, which carried sand and sediment into the area.

“It was the accumulated effect of the strong water current of the Sta. Fe River,” Mauricio said which stirred up on Aug. 9.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Over 500 Zambales folk evacuated amid rains, flooding

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

In previous days, residents could only see floodwaters covering the area. But as the water receded Thursday amid warmer weather, the extent of the damage became visible, including houses buried under layers of sand and sediment.

Other houses classified as totally damaged were affected by fallen trees.

Based on the partial damage assessment, 10 houses with estimated losses reaching P8.5 million in Barangay Sta. Fe were totally damaged,  including the two houses buried in sand while other houses were affected by fallen trees.

Some 22 houses were partially damaged within the municipality with estimated losses of P1.7 million.

Article continues after this advertisement

No casualties were reported as residents had been preemptively evacuated early from the affected areas.

Meanwhile, around 800 residents on the northern side of the river have remained isolated since Aug. 9 after floodwaters damaged a portion of the dike and swept away a bridge. 

Article continues after this advertisement

The river also overflowed anew on Aug. 19, sending floodwaters into the barangay hall and multi-purpose hall. INQ /mr