CATARMAN, N.Samar – Continuous rains brought about by the recent low pressure area caused a landslide in the hills along Daang Maharlika Highway in Barangay Caglanipao, Calbayog City Sunday (July 23) evening which forced to the closure of the San Isidro-Calbayog route for all kinds of vehicles.
After three days of joint clearing efforts by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Northern Samar First Engineering District Office (DPWH NSFEDO) and the Samar First District Engineering Office (SFEDO), only one lane of the 4-lane road has been cleared of fallen debris.
An estimated 15,000 cubic meter volume of sand and rock materials has eroded due to the landslide, according to DPWH NSFED.
Small erosions also occurred in the villages of Palanit and Mabuhay, both in San Isidro town that covered portions of the Maharlika Highway but these have been cleared immediately, according to the DPWH NSFED.
Vehicles and other motorists from Allen and Calbayog were advised to take the south road via the Calbayog- Lope De Vega highway.
Analiza Pabia, information officer of NSFEDO, said that the clearing operation is expected to be finished within this week in order to re-open the highway.
The San Isidro-Calbayog road is the regular route for vehicles plying from Leyte and Samar going to Luzon area via the roll on-roll off boats in Matnog, Sorsogon and in Allen and San Isidro seaports in Northern Samar.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)
