Over 20,000 Northern Samar families evacuated due to flooding

Over 24,000 Northern Samar families were evacuated due to massive flooding, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

Northern Samar PDRRMO Chief Rei Joshia Echano said on Super Radyo dzBB that a shear line brought more than a month's worth of rain to the province.

“Nasa sentro kami ng impact ng shear line sa buong bansa. 'Yung ibinuhos na ulan sa amin sa loob lamang ng isang araw ay mas higit pa sa isang buwan na ulan sa average ng November. Umabot ito sa 618 mm and counting pa,” said Echano.

(We are at the center of the shear line’s impact on the entire country. The amount of rainfall in just a day is even higher than the one-month average for November. It reached 618 mm and still rising.)

He said residents felt the extreme impact of the weather. Some were stranded, particularly in Catarman, Northern Samar where over 95% of barangays were flooded.

“Tingin ko ito 'yung pinaka-worst in recent memory sa aming probinsiya,” he lamented.

(I think this is the worst in recent memory in our province.)

“Ang displaced families ay umabot na ng 24,594. Hindi pa consolidated lahat kasi nasa gitna pa ng rescue operations and evacuation,” said Northern Samar PDRRMO Chief Rei Joshia Echano.

(The displaced families have reached 24,594. This has not yet been consolidated since we are still in the middle of our rescue operations and evacuation.)

“Nasa 54,419 individuals ‘yan. Sa usapin naman ng apektado, 370,000 families,” he added.

(That’s 54,419 individuals. In terms of the affected families, there are 370,000.)

The provincial government said they prepared 20,000 food packs for the victims. They are currently working on various ways to augment relief supplies and collaborating with several government agencies.

Echano added that as of 3 p.m., only 5% of their population needed rescue.

In the meantime, authorities decided to shut down the power in the area as a safety precaution.

According to PDRRMO Western Samar, 39 barangays from 7 municipalities were also flooded.

“So far, ang pinakamalalim (na baha) ay nasa 1-meter, isolated po sa ilang area sa municipality of Gandara,” said PDRRMO Western Samar Chief Van Torrevillas.

(So far, the flooding is a meter at its deepest, while some areas in the municipality of Gandara are isolated.)

“Base sa report nila sa amin kaninang umaga, may 20 barangays sa Gandara ang apektado. Mayroon pang reported sa amin na kailangan pa naming i-verify na mayroong additional na 2 barangays. More or less mga 22 barangays ang binaha,” he added.

(Based on their report earlier, 20 barangays in Gandara were affected. There are some reports, that we need to verify, that two other barangays were also affected. More or less, 22 barangays were flooded.)

Authorities are still monitoring several areas - Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, and Matuguinao. — DVM, GMA Integrated News