Leyte, E. Samar, towns in Aklan and Occ. Mindoro placed under state of calamity due to Ursula

The provinces of Leyte and Eastern Samar, as well as parts of Aklan and Occidental Mindoro have been placed under a state of calamity by their local governments due to the effects of Typhoon Ursula, according to reports on GMA News' 24 Oras and Super Radyo dzBB.

"We came up with a new mechanism by which we can declare a state of calamity inconsulta by electronic means so nag agree na kami by phone, by viber, and by messenger," Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto said in a report by Bam Alegre.

"Dito sa Leyte we've been through a lot, no, and siguro walang pagsubok na hindi kakayanin ng Leytenian," he added.

The provincial government of Leyte has declared state of calamity after the onslaught of #UrsulaPH | via Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and Leyte PDRRMO Chief Arvin Monge @gmanews

— Bam Alegre (@BamAlegre_) December 26, 2019

According to the report, the provincial government of Leyte declared a state of calamity at around 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. 

In a separate report by John Consulta, also on 24 Oras, Kalibo, Aklan was also placed under a state of calamity.

Other areas placed under a state of calamity are Eastern Samar, as well as San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB.

Ursula made its second landfall in Tacloban City, Leyte at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, causing severe damage to 15% of its infrastructure and agriculture.

More than 7,000 residents of Leyte were displaced by Ursula.

The storm also caused two fatalities in Leyte, one of which was said to be electrocuted in Abuyog while the other drowned in Kananga.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to the storm has climbed to 16, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Eastern Samar at San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, isasailalim sa state of calamity ngayong araw. #SuperBalitaSaTanghaliNationwide

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 26, 2019

— Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News