Northern Samar hard hit
(JUDE P. FRAGA/NORTHERN SAMAR NEWS AND INFORMATION)
TACLOBAN CITY – Over 1,300 families, comprising more than 6,400 individuals, were affected by flooding in Northern Samar due to Tropical Depression ‘Enteng,’ which struck Eastern Visayas on Sunday, September 1.
The severe weather led to one fatality, while four others are reported missing.
According to the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police, Enteng impacted 1,395 families, consisting of 6,431 people from the towns of Allen, Lavezares, and Lope de Vega, causing significant flooding.
Flooding was also reported in other parts of the province, including Bobon, Biri, Rosario, Catubig, and the capital, Catarman.
In Barangay Santo Niño, Biri, a landslide accompanied by a tornado destroyed 14 houses and resulted in the death of 76-year-old Federico Sabangan, Sr and his son 29-year-old Federico Jr.
Rei Josiah Echano, the provincial head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also reported that four residents of the village were injured in the incident. They were all brought to Biri District Hospital for treatment.
A tornado also struck the village of Villaflores in Lavezares town, Northern Samar, at around 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The incident destroyed a barracks occupied by workers engaged in road repair, but no injuries were reported.
Echano noted that Enteng brought an extraordinary amount of rainfall, exceeding the expected volume for the entire month of September.
“Yesterday’s rains were extraordinary. Based on the climatological analysis of Pagasa, around 230 mm of rain was expected for September 2024. However, in just the first day of the month, and in less than 18 hours, tropical depression Enteng dropped that entire projected rainfall volume, flooding 60 percent of the affected local government units,” he said.
In response to the severe weather, Governor Edwin Ongchuan has suspended classes, and 610 passengers were stranded at the Allen port.
Meantime, minor landslide incidents occurred in Almeria town, Biliran as flooding was also reported in some towns in Eastern Samar like in Dolores and Can-avid.
These landslide incidents took place in the upland village of Sampao and in Talahid, which is located along a national highway.
Several areas in Samar province, like Calbayog City and Matuguinao, classes were suspended due to the inclement weather.
Power supply was also down in several parts of the province.
Meanwhile, three fishermen – Fidelino Amboy from Borongan City and Ernesto Ayaton, 63, from Taft, both from Eastern Samar; and Lorenzo Gasque, 62, from Kawayan, Biliran – were reported missing. They went out to sea on Saturday, August 31, and have not returned.
However, another fisherman, 47-year-old Nathan Encio from Llorente, Eastern Samar, was rescued in Gamay, Northern Samar.
The regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways reported that roads along national highways in Northern Samar and Samar, which were previously flooded, have now been cleared and are open for traffic.
JOEY A. GABIETA
