Continuous heavy rains taking toll on Eastern Visayas

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 17, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The continuous rains in Eastern Visayas brought about by the Low Pressure Area northeast of Northern Mindanao has started to bring about flooding and minor landslides in some parts of the Region.

On February 15, reports coming from the Philippine Information Agency in Eastern Samar and confirmed by the Office of Civil Defense Region 8, stated that some 70 students, five teachers and parent were stranded since the evening of February 14, in an upstream barangay of San Jose, Borongan City, after the wooden bridge connecting the barangay to the mainland collapsed as a result of the continuous heavy rains in the area.

The same report stated that the school held its Juniors-Seniors Prom in the evening of February 14.

The Office of Civil Defense reported that the stranded people have already been rescued. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of Eastern Samar met noon of Friday and observed that some flooding and minor landslides in several municipalities.

A minor landslide was noted in the municipality of San Julian while in Barangay Naparaan in Salcedo town, a landslide rendered one portion of the road unpassable to commuters. The crew from the Department of Public Highways Borongan District Office immediately cleared the debris.

Flooding in several areas of Northern Samar was also reported by the Office of Civil Defense. Some portions of the roads were also reported to have been damaged because of the rains.

In the Province of Leyte, the Office of Civil Defense said it has already received reports of flooding in the municipalities of Palo, Tanauan and Dagami. The same report said that in the evening of February 14, the people at Barangay Sta. Elena has to be evacuated because of the rising flood waters.