Flooding, landslides force tens of thousands to flee their homes

Heavy rains unleashed by storm “Urduja” triggered floods that forced tens of thousands to flee their homes in Eastern Samar, Leyte, Samar provinces, and northern Cebu, disaster officials said Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 2 p.m. bulletin, said Urduja made landfall at 1 p.m. Saturday at the vicinity of San Policarpio, Eastern Samar. It also placed more areas under tropical cyclone warning signals No. 1 and No. 2.

PAGASA likewise warned residents in Bicol Region and the Visayas to continue to be on alert for life-threatening floods and landslides.

The Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Region 8 said flooding and landslides have displaced 94,904 persons in Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Samar provinces.

More than 39,000 others moved to evacuation centers due to rising flood waters triggered by three days of heavy rains in the region. Of the number, 32,262 are from Eastern Samar; 2,808 from Samar; 2,856 from Northern Samar; 472 from Leyte; and more than 1,000 from northern Cebu.

Severe flooding has also been reported in several villages in Calbiga, Basey, Marabut, San Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Pinabacdao, San Jorge, Sta. Rita, and Talalora in Samar; Tacloban City; and Carigara, Ormoc City, Palo, Tanauan, Sta. Fe, Alangalang, and Matalom in Leyte.

In Eastern Samar, widespread flooding was reported in Taft, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Gen. MacArthur, Giporlos, Hernani, San Julian, Llorente, Sulat, Maydolong, Taft, and Oras towns.

The cancellation of sea trip by the Philippine Coast Guard has stranded 2,093 passengers in the ports of Isabel and Bato in Leyte; Liloan and San Ricardo in Southern Leyte; and San Isidro and Allen in Northern Samar.

Landslides have been reported along major highways in Tacloban, Matag-ob, Babatngon, and San Miguel in Leyte; Catbalogan City, Daram, Sta. Rita in Samar; Llorente, Giporlos, San Julian, and Maydolong in Eastern Samar; Maasin City and Liloan in Southern Leyte.

In Tacloban, a mother and her child were seriously injured due to landslides.

The RDRRMC also said that three fishermen – Alfredo Berroja from Balangiga town, Rogelio Gamalo from Lawaan, and Pepito Gacho, Jr.  also from Lawaan town – have been reported missing. The fishermen went off to sea on Dec. 13 despite advice from the PCG.

Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Edgar Posadas said there has been no contact from them for three days.

Ferry services in Leyter and the Samar provinces remain suspended due to rough seas.

In northern Cebu, Mayor Vicente Loot said more than a thousand individuals from 12 coastal barangays in Daanbantayan town were asked to move out from their homes.

More areas affected

As of  2 p.m., signal No. 2 was hoisted over Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Aklan, Capiz, and northern Iloilo.

Areas under signal No. 1 are southern Quezon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cuyo Islands, Calamian Group of Islands, Antique, rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, Cebu, northern Bohol, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Urduja, which packs sustained winds of 80 kph and gustiness of up to 110 kph, is moving faster at 15 kph.

Aurelio said Bicol Region and Visayas will continue to experience moderate to heavy rains within the next two days.

Likewise, southern Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon can also experience scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains within the next few days.

Aurelio noted that rainfall over Eastern Samar has exceeded this month’s average rainfall of 440.1 millimeters in just two days. From Dec. 14 to Dec. 15, PAGASA’s Guiuan station in Eastern Samar has recorded 889.6 millimeters of rainfall, he pointed out.

Other PAGASA stations that recorded heavy rainfall in the past two consecutive days are Borongan City, Catarman, and Catbalogan City.

PAGASA warned that sea travel remains risky over the coastlines of areas with storm warnings, as well as in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon, and Mindanao.

By Sunday morning, Aurelio said Urduja will be 85 km west of Roxas City, and by Monday morning, it will be 145 km north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Urduja is expected to weaken into a tropical depression while on its way to the West Philippine Sea.

Should it maintain its current track, Aurelio said Urduja will be outside the country’s area of responsibility by Wednesday.

Aside from Urduja, PAGASA is also monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) east of the country.

As of mid-Saturday, Aurelio said the LPA was spotted at 2,180 km east of General Santos City, and is expected to enter the country’s area of responsibility by Dec. 19 (Tuesday).

There is a possibility that the LPA will intensify into a tropical depression with a local name of “Vinta.” (With a report from Kier C. Belleza and Niño Luces)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Ellalyn De Vera Ruiz, PNA, and AFP

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