DPWH-8 put up alternate routes

CEBU, Philippines - Landslides, due to heavy rains spawned by low pressure area, have blocked the highways to and from the Pacific towns of Southern Leyte province, prompting the DPWH-Region 8 to advise motorists to take alternate routes.

DPWH-8 Regional Director Rolando Asis told The Freeman that landslides occurred in barangays Kahupi-an and Olisihan in Sogod town in barangays, Hindag-an and Lipanto of Saint Bernard town, all in Southern Leyte.

Asis reported no injuries to people and, while clearing operations were being done in these landslide sites, an alternate route was suggested for motorists traveling to and from Tacloban City.

For those going to Pana-on and Liloan towns, who were affected by the landslides in Sogod near the Agas-agas Bridge, they will take the Mahaplag-Bato-Sogod-Lilo-an, San Ricardo road and vice versa.

The other route suggested will be the Tacloban-Abuyog-Silago-St. Bernard junction-Himay-angan-Liloan-San Ricardo road and vice versa, or the Tacloban-Mahaplag-Baybay-Baybay-Bato-Bontoc-Sogod junction Himay-angan-Silago-Abuyog boundary and vice versa.

"Early warning devices and road signs have been set up" in these landslide-affected roads, said DPWH-8.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense-Region 8 reported that a 9-year-old girl drowned in the overflowed river in her village of Cabugawan in St. Bernard town.

OCD-8 acting regional director Rey Gozon, in a report, said the girl tried to reach for her dog that was being swept away by the flashflood. There were no other details available on the incident, as of press time.

In the same report, Gozon stated that 21 families, or 65 individuals, from 10 flooded barangays of St. Bernard were evacuated to safer grounds. (FREEMAN)