Work, classes in Eastern Visayas canceled due to heavy rains
Eastern Visayas map. INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — Heavy rains brought by a shear line prompted several local governments in Eastern Visayas to cancel work and classes on Thursday, March 20.
In Eastern Samar, Gov. Ben Evardone issued an executive order suspending all classes in private and public schools, as well as work in all government offices across the province due to the persistent heavy rainfall.
In Biliran province, work and classes were suspended in its eight municipalities, including its provincial capital, Naval.
In Leyte, among the areas that suspended both work and classes were Tacloban City and the towns of Albuera, Burauen, Dagami, Carigara, Tunga, Tolosa, Abuyog, and Palo.
Several municipalities in Samar province, including Daram, Motiong, and Basey, also suspended classes.
In Northern Samar, classes were canceled in Catubig and Lope de Vega due to continuous rains.
Flooding was reported in 14 out of 24 barangays in Taft, Eastern Samar, as well as in the municipalities of Can-avid and Sulat in the same province.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Eastern Samar reported that a road section along Wright-Taft in Borongan was rendered impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding.
In Leyte, flooding incidents were reported in several barangays of Mayorga, Villaba, Tanauan, and Tacloban City, including the northern villages where resettlement houses for Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors are located.
A landslide was also reported in Barangay Pinarigusan, San Miguel, Leyte. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard in Northern Samar issued an advisory suspending sea travel along the northern and eastern coasts of the province due to bad weather.
The Office of Civil Defense in the region placed most of Eastern Visayas under a red warning category on Thursday morning, indicating the potential for heavy rains that could trigger flooding and landslides.
It advised all local governments to remain on high alert and take necessary precautions to prevent any loss of life.
READ: Rainy weather in Cebu due to shear line may last until Sunday
