TACLOBAN CITY – At least 13 areas in two Samar provinces have been placed under state of calamity as massive flooding triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) displaced thousands of families.
These areas are Maydolong, Borongan City, San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, and Jipapad in Eastern Samar; and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar.
The hardest hit is the town of Jipapad, where all its 13 villages were submerged in flood water that lasted for two days.
‘The five-foot flooding affected the food and drinking water supply in Jipapad hence, we immediately sent 100 sacks of rice and 10,000 bottles of water for affected families,’ Governor Ben Evardone said in a statement.
The 12 areas in Eastern Samar were placed under state of calamity by the provincial board in a special session on Oct. 24, responding to the request of Evardone after meeting the members of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management (PDRRM) council.
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ed on the initial report from the Eastern Samar PDDRM office, some 6,791 families, or 34,488 individuals, were affected by the weather disturbance, with 1,458 persons evacuated.
There are no reports yet on the cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the province.
In Lope de Vega town, some 4,693 families were displaced by the typhoon, including 1,500 individuals evacuated to safer grounds.
Lope de Vega was the most affected in Northern Samar province, with its main road becoming unpassable due to flood water. The road is within the main highway that links Catarman, the capital in Northern Samar, to Calbayog City in Samar.
At least four residents were also injured during the typhoon, and two houses were totally damaged in Lope de Vega town.
The local agriculture office reported an initial PHP4.59 million damaged to agriculture due to widespread flooding.
Source: Philippines News agency