Sand deluge destroys homes in Zambales town after river surge

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — A residential area in this Zambales municipality faced significant damage after prolonged heavy currents in the Sta. Fe River deposited massive quantities of sand and sediment across nearby homes.

According to Arsenio Edar Mauricio III, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the incident resulted in the destruction of ten houses in the area. Two of these residences were completely buried under accumulated sand and sediment during the surge.

The disaster struck following several days of strong water currents that overwhelmed the river's banks. The combination of high-volume water flow and sediment movement proved powerful enough to inundate and damage structures in the affected residential compound.

Local disaster management officials have begun assessing the full extent of the damage and determining appropriate response measures for affected residents. The incident highlights ongoing vulnerability of communities near major waterways during periods of heavy water flow.