Over 4,200 families were directly affected
TACLOBAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas reported that all 4,299 families, consisting of 14,528 individuals, affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” have returned home after temporarily evacuating due to flooding.
OCD Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion confirmed on Saturday, Oct. 26, that floodwaters have fully subsided in all affected areas across the region.
“All evacuees have already returned home, and currently, no individuals remain in evacuation centers,” Torrecarion said in a press conference.
He added that power and communication services have been restored throughout the region, particularly in the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The storm impacted 178,685 families, or 685,049 people, in total.
According to Torrecarion, 69 houses were completely destroyed, and 1,815 others sustained damage.
Assistance for affected families is underway, with housing materials provided by the OCD.
The OCD has yet to receive a complete report on damages to public infrastructure and agriculture. However, Torrecarion emphasized that their priority remains the immediate support of storm victims.
Preliminary data from the Eastern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) indicated infrastructure damages in the province amounting to P8.9 million, while agricultural losses, mainly affecting rice crops, totaled P15.12 million.
Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, upon Governor Ben Evardone’s recommendation, declared a state of calamity in Borongan City and 11 other towns in Eastern Samar due to Kristine’s impact.
Additionally, Calbayog City was placed under a state of calamity on Oct. 24, with flooding affecting 58 out of 157 barangays, impacting 9,307 families, or over 46,500 individuals.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that 43 local government units have received food packs totaling 56,620.
Regional DSWD Director Grace Subong noted that over 54,000 additional food packs remain prepositioned in warehouses across the region, ready for distribution to those affected by the storm.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
