Shear line triggers flooding, landslides across Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY—Heavy rains triggered by a shear line have caused flooding and landslides across parts of Eastern Visayas since Saturday, forcing evacuations, disrupting power supply, suspending classes and prompting authorities to enforce a no-sailing policy in several provinces.
In Eastern Samar, at least 54 families, or 153 individuals, from three low-lying barangays in the town of Jipapad were evacuated to government-designated centers due to flooding.
According to Vicky Abestros, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, persistent rains inundated 10 of the town’s 13 barangays.
Abestros said Poblacions 1, 3 and 4 were among the hardest hit, with floodwaters reaching three to five feet, or about 1.5 meters, deep.
“The affected families are now staying in our evacuation centers, while some are temporarily housed in elevated private residences,” Abestros told the Inquirer.
Power interruptions
As a precautionary measure, the power supply in Jipapad—a low-lying municipality with a population of more than 8,500—was intentionally cut off by the provincial electric utility at the request of the municipal government to prevent possible electrocution amid flooding.
Heavy rains have persisted across the region since Saturday. Flooding was also reported in other parts of Eastern Samar, including the towns of Maslog, Dolores and Llorente, as well as in Borongan City, the provincial capital, which placed all barangay disaster risk reduction and management offices (DRRMOs) on alert due to continuous rainfall.
In Leyte, Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla ordered the raising of a blue alert status across the province on Sunday afternoon. The move activated all municipal and city DRRMOs to ensure coordinated response and preparedness for weather-related incidents.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez ordered the suspension of classes at all levels, both in public and private schools, due to the continuous rains.
Several barangays in the city experienced flooding, prompting some families to evacuate. Schools, particularly in the northern part of the city, were inspected and opened as potential evacuation sites after floodwaters entered residential houses.
Other local government units (LGUs) in the region are also expected to suspend classes due to the inclement weather.
Landslides
In Biliran province, flooding affected the town of Kawayan, while landslides were reported in the barangays of San Roque and Pinanihagon in Culaba, following continuous downpour.
In Naval, the provincial capital, the municipal DRRMO opened two major evacuation centers and ordered mandatory evacuations at around 2 p.m. on Sunday for residents in landslide- and flood-prone areas. Public schools in the town of Maripipi were also opened to accommodate possible evacuees.
Northern Samar likewise experienced flooding in the towns of Catubig and Lope de Vega, and in Catarman, the provincial capital, where several trees were toppled by strong winds. Flooding was also reported in Calbayog City, Samar.
Classes were also suspended in Northern Samar upon the order of Gov. Harris Ongchuan.
Due to worsening sea conditions, the Philippine Coast Guard stations in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar enforced a no-sailing policy to prevent maritime accidents.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas issued advisories urging LGUs to fully activate their DRRMOs as more rains are expected, which could further trigger flooding and landslides.
According to a report from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, it has prepared 176,806 family food packs and 18,543 nonfood items, including hygiene and sleeping kits, ready for distribution to families affected by the flooding.
