(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – Heavy rains brought by a shear line affecting most of Eastern Visayas prompted several local government units to cancel work and classes on Thursday, March 20.
In Eastern Samar, Governor Ben Evardone issued an executive order suspending classes at all levels in both private and public schools, as well as work in all government offices across the province due to the persistent heavy rainfall.
In Biliran province, work and classes were also suspended in all of its eight municipalities, including its provincial capital, Naval.
In Leyte, among the areas that suspended both work and classes were Tacloban City and the towns of Albuera, Burauen, Dagami, Carigara, Tunga, Tolosa, Abuyog, and Palo.
Several municipalities in Samar province, including Daram, Motiong, and Basey, also suspended classes. In Northern Samar, classes were canceled in Catubig and Lope de Vega due to continuous rains.
Flooding was reported in 14 out of 24 barangays in Taft, Eastern Samar, as well as in the municipalities of Can-avid and Sulat in the same province.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Eastern Samar reported that a road section along Wright-Taft in Borongan was rendered impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding.
In Leyte, flooding incidents were reported in several barangays of Mayorga, Villaba, Tanauan, and Tacloban City, including the northern villages where resettlement houses for Typhoon Yolanda survivors are located.
Landslide incidents were also reported in Barangay Pinarigusan, San Miguel, Leyte and in Brgy. San Gabriel, Borongan City.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard in Northern Samar issued an advisory suspending sea travel along the northern and eastern coasts of the province due to bad weather conditions.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the region placed most of Eastern Visayas under a red warning category on Thursday morning, indicating the potential for heavy rains that could trigger flooding and landslides.
It advised all local government units to remain on high alert and take necessary precautions to prevent any loss of life.
(JOEY A. GABIETA with student intern LANCE ARCHIE TORING)
