Work and classes in all levels in the Province of Eastern Samar were cancelled on Thursday, March 20, 2025 due to intense rainfall brought about by the shear line.

According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Eastern Samar, 14 of 24 barangays in the Municipality of Taft were flooded due to heavy rainfall.

Taft Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) listed the 14 barangays as Del Remedios, Danao, Bongdo, Beto, Gayam, Pangabutan, Barangay 1, Dacul, San Pablo, Malinao, Binaloan, San Rafael, San Luis, and portion of Polangi.

In a video taken by a resident, Maricel Ramirez Basada, water level in Barangay Beto was shown to have reached knee level.

Ramirez said their neighborhood turned river-like.

In Basada’s post, she mentioned that the water level started rising evening on March 19, 2025 and reached a few houses.

Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) rescued a family trapped in Barangay San Luis.

In the Municipality of Can-Avid, several barangays were also inundated by floodwaters.

According to the spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 8, Sher Saises, that over 1,000 individuals in the said town were affected by the flooding.

Further, one barangay in the Municipality of San Julian, Eastern Samar also experienced flooding.

Saises reminded the public to be vigilant and to cooperate with the authorities in case of a preemptive evacuation. 

“Sa ating kababayan na malapit sa mga lugar na may bantang panganib, lumikas po tayo kung mararapatin po at kung merong abiso ang local na awtoridad na tayo po ay lumikas, then lumikas po tayo agad, lalo na po yung prone sa baha at landslide, para sa kaligtasan natin at ng ating mga pamilya,” Saises said.

Moreover, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone ordered the suspension of work and classes on March 20, 2025 due to torrential rain.

However, the cancellation does not include work involving vital services such as disaster response and delivery of basic services.

Furthermore, a few areas in Villaba and Mayorga towns, Province of Leyte were also affected by floods.