2 dead as floods submerge villages in Eastern Visayas

MANILA, Philippines: Two individuals were reportedly killed in flood-stricken Eastern Visayas following five days of torrential rains caused by a shear line and low pressure in the Pacific coast.

Office of Civil Defense Director in Region 8 Lord Byron Torrecarion said they received reports of the two deaths but withheld their identities.

At present, the Samar provinces are still experiencing heavy rains that have inundated 31 villages (barangay) in Catarman, Lope de Vega, San Roque, Catubig, Palabag and Bobon.

Torrecarion also revealed that 29 villages in Calbayon, San Jose de Bean and Gandara in Samar were submerged in floods.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 618 millimeters of rain was recorded in Catarman, Northern Samar, above the 450 mm monthly climatological normal average.

Heavy flooding also severely affected 44 barangay in the towns of Jipapad, Arteche, Borongan, Canavid, Maydolong and Maslog, all in Eastern Samar, Torrecarion reported.

«Although rains are less furious now, there are still areas that have high water levels particularly in towns of Jipapad and Arteche which are catch basins,» Torrecarion said.

He said personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have started distributing family food packs to thousands of affected residents in the Samar provinces.