Torrential rain, flood continue to batter Eastern Visayas

Published January 11, 2023, 11:02 AM

by Marie Tonette Marticio, MB 

TACLOBAN CITY – Hundreds of families fled their homes and work and classes remain suspended in some areas in Eastern Visayas due to incessant rain and flood on Wednesday, Jan. 11. 

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone appealed to the Department of Agriculture to provide rice-certified seeds to farmers as all of the crops in their province have been destroyed by flooding.

He called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development to distribute food to 12,101 individuals staying in evacuation centers.

All national roads in Eastern Samar are passable to all types of vehicles except in Barangay Bigo, Arteche, which remain flooded as of Wednesday morning.

Motorists from Arteche bound for Jipapad and vice versa may take the alternate route via Barangay Imelda, Lapinig- Jipapad Road.

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan extended the suspension of classes on all levels due to the inclement weather caused by a low-pressure area.

Landslides triggered by heavy flooding were reported in the municipalities of Catubig, Mondragon, Las Navas, Catarman, Laoang, Lope de Vega, and Mapanas. 

In Catubig, some residents rode boats on flooded streets as well as local government unit personnel who rescued families trapped in their homes.

Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan ordered the suspension of classes on all levels in public and private schools and work in all government offices.

Several vehicles were stranded by flood in a portion of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tulay in Santa Rita, Samar on Tuesday due to non-stop rain.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the road was passable to all types of vehicles.

The municipalities of Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Maripipi, Almeria, Culaba, Kawayan, and Naval in Biliran province suspended work and classes.

Naval Mayor Gretchen Espina said some families from landslide-prone areas fled to the evacuation center in Barangay Larrazabal.

A section of the Biliran-Naval Road is impassable to all types of vehicles due to the Catmon Detour Bridge submerged by continuous heavy rain as of 7:40 a.m. Wednesday.

Motorists were advised to use the alternate routes Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road-Caibiran-Cabucgayan-Biliran for light vehicles and Naval-Almeria-Kawayan-Culaba-Caibiran-Cabucgayan-Biliran for heavy vehicles.

'Agaton' leaves 23 dead in Eastern Visayas, Davao region

by Aaron Recuenco, Manila Bulletin

At least 20 people died while six others were reported missing in Eastern Visayas due to the massive flooding and several; landslides triggered by the onslaught of tropical depression “Agaton”.

Based on the report from the Police Regional Office 8, almost all of the fatalities were from Baybay City when at least three residential areas were buried in a landslide.

In Barangay Mailhi, a total of 16 residents were confirmed to have died of the landslide while three more were recovered in Barangay Kantagnos. Another cadaver was recovered in Barangay Bunga.

The reported deaths in Eastern Visayas brought to 23 the death toll from “Agaton” as the local police also reported that two people died in Monkayo, Davao de Oro and another one in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

Photo: PNP-PIO

Six more people were reported missing in Eastern Visayas.

Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, director of the Police Regional Office 8, said he had already ordered the deployment of more policemen and equipment to assist in the search, rescue and retrieval operations in areas affected by landslides and flash floods.

“We already deployed rubber boats,vehicles and other equipment that include handheld radios for these operations,” Banac said.

He said the deployment of policemen also include the assistance in the evacuation of residents.

Based on the latest data, a total of 1,515 families or 5,703 individuals that were moved to various evacuation centers.