Northern Samar now under state of calamity due to damages from heavy rains
Northern Samar map
TACLOBAN CITY — The province of Northern Samar was placed under a state of calamity on Monday, Jan. 16, due to the damage it sustained from the heavy rains spawned by a trough of a low pressure area (LPA).
The declaration of a state of calamity was made official through a resolution approved by the provincial board on Monday and upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Gov. Edwin Ongchuan.
The continuous heavy rainfall, experienced by the province last week, resulted in flooding and landslide incidents that affected 55,789 families, composed of 238,322 individuals.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said the incessant rains also damaged various roads and bridges amounting to P420 million, and another P104.6 million losses in its agriculture sector.
The heavy rains also resulted in the deaths of two persons, one was a soldier who was crossing a river in San Isidro town to help rescue flood victims in the area.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, the provincial government could now use its calamity fund to help affected families.
Northern Samar is the second province in Eastern Visayas which declared a state of calamity.
Last Jan. 6, the province of Eastern Samar was also placed under a state of calamity due to the massive damages it sustained due to the LPA-induced rains.
It affected 72,197 families, consisting of 249,022 individuals, and damaged infrastructures amounting to P226 million.
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