2 dead in Eastern Visayas floods, landslides

MANILA, Philippines — Massive flooding and landslides due to continuous heavy rainfall in Eastern Visayas have left two persons dead.

The Northern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said one of the victims died in a landslide in Barangay Ynaguingayan in Pambujan town.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said local disaster management clusters of the Department of the Interior and Local Government are validating the reported deaths.

The OCD said landslides were reported in Catarman and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar; Catbalogan City, Samar; Jipapad, Eastern Samar; Babatngon, Leyte, and Bontoc, Southern Leyte.

31 barangays in Catarman, Lope de Vega, San Roque, Catubig, Palabag and Bobon in Northern Samar remained flooded as of yesterday, according to OCD-Eastern Visayas director Lord Torrecarion.

He said 29 barangays in Calbayog, San Jose de Buan and Gandara in Samar and 44 barangays in Jipapad, Arteche, Borongan, Canavid, Maydolong and Maslog in Eastern Samar remained submerged in floodwaters.

Torrecarion said the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided food packs to affected families.

He said several roads remained impassable in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar.

Power outages as well as water supply and internet service interruptions were also reported.

State of calamity in Northern Samar

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan said the provincial board approved the declaration of a state of calamity in the province upon the recommendation of the PDRRMC.

Nearly 75,000 families or about 370,000 people were affected by flooding in the province.

Rescue operations and evacuations were ongoing yesterday as floodwaters rose after rivers overflowed their banks.

Classes in all levels in private and public schools and work in government offices, except for disaster, health and public safety agencies, remained suspended.

The Philippine Coast Guard-Northern Samar substation said it rescued 78 families or 365 people who were trapped in their homes as floodwaters rose by more than five feet.

Those rescued are residents of Barangays Macagtas, Molave, Yakal, Narra, Ipil-Ipil in Catarman as well as villagers of Biri, Palapag and San Jose towns, all in Northern Samar.

A state of calamity was also declared in Jipapad, which was worst hit by flooding in Eastern Samar.

Classes were suspended in Samar as well as work in government offices in several areas in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

Rains to continue

The Eastern Visayas regional DRRMC said it raised the alert level in the region to red. This means torrential rains that can lead to severe flooding may continue.

The regional DRRMC requested the military to conduct an aerial inspection of flooded areas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the shear line and trough or extension of a low-pressure area dumped more than a month’s rain, causing massive flooding and landslides in Eastern Visayas.

Volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross continue to provide relief assistance to affected families, PRC chairman Richard Gordon said.

He said 1,460 people took shelter in 12 evacuation centers in Northern Samar, Western Samar and Masbate.

“Our payloaders are positioned for clearing operations, ensuring continuous assistance to geographically isolated areas,” Gordon said. – Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas