TACLOBAN CITY-Continuous heavy rains forced several local government units here in Eastern Visayas to suspend classes and work as flooding and landslide were also reported across the region.
Here in Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez issued an order suspending both classes and work among government employees whose offices are located in the city effective 12:01 noon.
Romualdez personally conducted his monitoring across the city as several portions of the city experienced flooding due to the incessant rains spawned by the tail frontal system.
The rise of flood water have resulted for some workers, both in the government and private sector, not to proceed to work.
An entire chapel located at a top of a hill at the Regina Heights subdivision in Barangay 91, Tacloban, also collapsed due to the continuous rain experienced by the city since Saturday. No one was hurt.
In Biliran province, Governor Rogelio Espina has also suspended work at the provincial capitol building due to the heavy rains.
In the town of Caibiran, also in Biliran, classes and work were also suspended by Mayor Rhodessa Delantar to avoid any untoward incident as the town also experienced heavy rains.
In Kawayan, also Biliran, the distribution of modules were also suspended by the local schools division due to the inclement weather.
A bridge in Barangay Larrazabal, Naval town, was also flooded rendering it as unpassable.
In Southern Leyte, a main highway located in Silago town was washed out due to the continuous rains brought by the massive rains.
A minor landslide occurred in Barangay Kahupian, also in Sogod town. No was injured due to the rock fall incident.
Flooding and landslide incidents were also reported in the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar with the level of rain water reaching up to four meters in depth.
In the town of Arteche, Eastern Samar, 1,102 families consisting of 4,534 individuals from its nine coastal villages were evacuated to safer and higher grounds due to the flooding incidents that submerged several houses, Mayor Roland Boei Evardone reported.
A rock fall was reported in Barangay Binaloan, Taft town, Eastern Samar dumping four cubic meters of rock, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.
Flooding reaching up to the second floors of the several houses also hit the towns of Maslog, Jipapad and Can-avid, all in Eastern Samar.
A minor landslide incident was also reported in Brgy.Poblacion 2 in Pinabacdao town in Samar. A flooding incident in Brgy. Piñaplata in Gandara, also in the same province, has also rendered the town unpassable.
Rise of rain water was also experienced in Catbalogan City and at San Jose de Buan.
In the town of Catarman, Northern Samar, at least 21 families consisting of 94 individuals from the villages of Yakal, Baybay, and Dalakit were evacuated due to the flooding incidents.
Personnel of the local municipal health office visited the evacuation centers to ensure that the protocols against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being followed by the affected individuals.
The heavy rains have also resulted in flooding incidents in the towns of Palapag and Catubig. In Catubig town, 106 families or more than 500 individuals from its 14 villages were affected by the flooding.
In Allen town, two houses were totally damaged due to the flooding.
Town Mayor Joey Suan said that about 805 families from its 14 villages were affected by the landslide incidents and around 300 hectares of rice fields were submerged by the rain water. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
