Urduja displaces 100T: 4 dead, 5 missing

CEBU, Philippines — At least two were confirmed dead in Ormoc City while three others went missing after they were swept away by flood as Tropical Storm Urduja entered the Philippines yesterday.

Yet even before Urduja made landfall in San Policarpio, Eastern Samar early afternoon, two people were killed when a landslide hit a barangay in Almeria in Biliran.

According to a report by GMA News, officials of the town identified the fatalities as Jimny Jorge, 2, and Winnie Garbo, 55.

Two others were missing, Maribeth Garbo, 50, and Wilma Garbo, 12.

The fatalities, as well as those that went missing in Ormoc, were yet to be identified.

 A total of 11,101 passengers were stranded in some of the country’s ports amid risks posed by sea travel due to Urduja, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

In Northern Samar, floods hit the towns of Catubig, Gamay, San Jose, Laoang, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, and Mondragon.

 Tacloban City has been placed under a state of calamity after widespread flooding hit the city this week. Tacloban is the first local government unit in Eastern Visayas affected by Urduja.

The towns of Catarman and Catubig, also in Northern Samar, have been placed under a state of calamity.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that flooding and landslide have displaced nearly 95,000 people in Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Samar provinces.

 More than 38,000 of them were moved to evacuation centers: 32,262 are in Eastern Samar, 2,808 in Samar, 2,856 in Northern Samar, and 472 in Leyte, the RDRRMC said.

In Eastern Samar, flooding was also reported in the towns of Calbiga, Basey, Marabut, San Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Pinabacdao, San Jorge, Sta. Rita, and Talalora in Samar; Tacloban City, Carigara, Ormoc City, Palo, Tanauan, Sta. Fe, Alangalang, and Matalom in Leyte; and in Taft, Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Gen. MacArthur, Giporlos, Hernani, San Julian, Llorente, Sulat, Maydolong, Taft, and Oras.

Meanwhile, landslides were reported in Tacloban, Matag-ob, Babatngon, and San Miguel in Leyte; Catbalogan City, Daram, Sta. Rita in Samar; Llorente, Giporlos, San Julian, and Maydolong in Eastern Samar; and Maasin City and Liloan in Southern Leyte.

Cebu evacuations

In Cebu, around 5,000 families from four towns were evacuated yesterday, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The bulk of this number is from Daanbantayan, the town in the northernmost tip of mainland Cebu, with 4,126 families from 20 barangays leaving their own homes. Of this number, 3,725 were provided with “home-based evacuation,” said Mayor Vicente Loot.

This means, residents whose houses were made of light materials are taking shelter at neighbors’ houses that are strong enough to withstand the storm.

Loot said the good news is that the residents followed evacuation procedures voluntarily, a lesson that they learned from their experienced during super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Meanwhile, 70 families were evacuated in Bogo City, 30 families in Sogod town, and 12 families in Madridejos town, all in northern Cebu. These towns also suffered from Yolanda.

Food packs have been distributed to families at evacuation centers.

Urduja also affected infrastructures.

Back in Daanbantayan, a portion of a road in Barangay Tinubdan caved in, thus, only small vehicles were allowed to pass. 

In Medellin town, a portion of a road in Barangay Dalingding also caved in, which rendered the road impassable, said MDRRMO Operations on Warning Officer Stephen Yurag.

Still in Medellin, creeks in Barangay Caputatan Norte overflowed, which prevented passage to neighboring Caputatan Sur. 

The water level in another creek in another neighboring barangay, Lamintak Norte, also continued to rise and 19 barangays, which may be affected by flooding, are being monitored.

As of yesterday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Engineering Brigade are addressing the problem.

In Danao City, strong winds torn down the welcome arch at the city limit.

In Bogo City, trees fell on the roads in Barangays Nailon, Taytayan, Dakit and Gairan but these were removed immediately, said DRRM Officer Ben Frederick Rodriguez.

The towns in the north also experienced isolated power outages after some power lines were entangled or broke down.

Infrastructure

In Cebu City, Urduja caused minor landslides, damaged crops, and brought trees down in the mountain barangays, said Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Operations chief Harold Alcontin.

“So far, kaluoy sa Ginoo, wala gyoy reported nga dagkong insidente,” he told The FREEMAN yesterday.

The landslides occurred in Barangay Sirao while the damaged crops are those in Barangay Adlaon. The trees that fell to the ground were found in Cambinocot, Sudlon 1.

Alcontin said a big mango tree in barangay Lahug has also fallen which caused the temporary blackout in the area near the Circa 1900 restaurant.

But, he said utility workers of Visayan Electric Company were doubling their efforts to restore the power supply in the area.

“As of now, sige ra gyod ta og monitor sa mga areas sa syudad tungod sa weather gyod nato karon. Dunay mga barangay disaster teams nga nagsige og roving para maka-tip nato sa command center sa posibleng untoward nga incidents,” he said.

Alcontin said he is urging the disaster teams in various barangays to be vigilant and to continue monitoring the weather updates for possible evacuation of the residents.

No casualties recorded in Cebu City, he said.

Transpo suspended

In Lapu-Lapu City, the city government suspended the travel of pump boats yesterday morning. Among those affected are trips from mainland Mactan Island to Olango Island, said Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Officer (LLCDRRMO) Andy Berame.

Operations at the Buot Wharf in Barangay Punta Engaño, Angasil Wharf in Barangay Maribago, and Parker Wharf in Barangay Marigondon were also suspended.

"Sugod Thursday evening nag-Blue Alert na atong EOC (Emergency Operation Center), on standby atong Local IMT with responders: SAR (Search and Retrieval Team, EMS (Emergency Medical Service) Team and Flood Control Unit," Berame said.

Personnel from LLCDRRMO are also conducting periodic roving monitoring to areas prone to flood.

The Mantaue Road in Barangay Poblacion, Sitio Mahayahay in Barangay Bankal, Sitio Datag in Barangay Maribago, and Ceres Street corner Old Maribago Road are being monitored for flooding. — with Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)