FLOODS IN EASTERN PHILIPPINES CAUSES LANDSLIDES

TACLOBAN CITY – The incessant rain experienced by Eastern Visayas has resulted to a minor landslide in a town in Southern Leyte, stranded Luzon-bound passengers and caused flooding in different towns of Northern and Eastern Samar provinces. Due to the non-stop rain brought about by a low pressure area, a minor landslide in Brgy. Pancho Villa, Sogod in Southern Leyte occurred with no damage to life or property was reported, Ben Linde, operations staff of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-8) said Saturday. The bad weather has also resulted for thousands of passengers, all bound for various parts of Luzon, mostly Metro Manila, to be stranded in the ports of Dapdap in San Isidro and in Balwhartico, Allen, both towns is in Northern Samar last Friday night. In Balwhartico port, 1,714 passengers on board of 71 vehicles and 655 passengers loaded on 16 vehicles in Dapdap port were not allowed to sail by the Philippine Coast Guard “due to threats of the big waves,” Linde said. But by 8 a.m. on Saturday, the PCG allowed the passengers to leave the two ports, the OCD-8 operations staff said. The non-stop rains have also resulted to the flooding in several parts of Northern Samar and in Eastern Samar. “We have received initial reports that there were flooding incidents in some parts of Northern Samar,” Linde said. As of Saturday morning, Linde could only confirm flooding incident in Catarman, the provincial capital. Mayor Jojie Montallana of Jipapad, Eastern Samar, said that several parts of the low-lying town were submerged in water due to the non-stop rain. During last month’s heavy rain, the municipal government placed the town under a state of calamity with damage to properties and agriculture placed at P 5 million. Three people, including a new-born baby girl, died. The OCD in the region has reiterated its call for all provincial disaster councils to always be on guard for any eventualities that may happened due to the incessant rain. This way, damage to properties and loss of lives could be avoided. People living in low-lying areas should leave and search for a safer and higher grounds once they saw the signs of a possible flashflood or landslide. It also reminded fishermen not to venture to open seas as it is dangerous for them to catch fish if they are on board small sea crafts.