Southern Leyte residents forced to evacuate due to Odette

Local officials have ordered the forced evacuation of residents in Liloan, Southern Leyte as a precautionary measure amid the threat of Typhoon Odette.

According to Cedric Castillo’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, local residents were forced to temporarily vacate their homes to avoid the typhoon's wrath expected on Thursday.

“Yung baha at saka baka lumalaki yung mga alon, kaya lumikas na lang po para safety,” resident Flordeliza Ortega said.

(The flood and waves are getting bigger, so we just evacuate for our safety.)

“Masisira yung mga tanim namin, bahay,” another resident Rolando Creo said.

(Our crops and houses will be destroyed due to the typhoon.)

Families from 60 to 70 houses were brought to designated evacuation centers of the local government unit.

“Kung mayroong dadalhin sa evacuation, mayroon tayong maibigay na mga pagkain tsaka yung mga hygiene kit. Iyong mga tindahan dito mayroon tayong memorandum of agreement kung sakaling kailangan namin ng supply kukuha na lang kami,” Michael Uy-Oco, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) Liloan officer, said.

(We assure the residents here in evacuation centers that we will provide food and hygiene kits. We also had a memorandum of agreement with certain stores, in case we need supplies, we can just get from them.)

Meanwhile, long queues of trucks and vehicles were seen approaching Liloan bridge as land and sea travel in the province were suspended due to the threat of Odette.

“Sa Monday pa raw ang resume, ‘yun ang sabi nila eh wala kaming magawa,” driver Winnie Centeno said.

(The land and sea travel will resume on Monday, we cannot do anything about it.)

Personnel of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army were deployed in the province to render necessary assistance.

PAGASA said Odette gained strength as it moved west northwestward over the Philippine Sea on Wednesday.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News