Thousands evacuated in Tacloban as storm approaches

AP FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte—Over 2,000 families living in tent cities here were evacuated Friday by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council as Tropical Storm Basyang approached less than three months after Supertyphoon Yolanda devastated the region.

Council chief Federico Anido said that the evacuees, who numbered more than 10,000 persons, were directed to stay at the Tacloban Convention Center, also known as Astrodome, to ensure their safety.

Anido said he decided to evacuate these families since they were living in tents that could be blown away by the new storm’s 65 to 85 kph winds. He said he asked the evacuess to fold away their tents so they would not be blown away or destroyed by the new storm.

The evacuees consist of people whose homes were destroyed by Yolanda last Nov. 8 and were living in tents in Barangay San Jose and within the compound of the Astrodome, which has a capacity of more than 5,000 persons.

The city government has also identified other evacuation centers such as the Leyte Normal University and other public schools.

Anido added that several families living in houses along the coast of Anibong district, where eight cargo vessels were washed inland during the onslaught of Yolanda, has moved to the Anibong Elementary School since Thursday night.

He said that he has directed the staff of the disaster council to inform fishermen about the approaching storm and warn them against venturing out to sea.

One hundred families living in newly constructed bunkhouses along the national highway in the Motocross area did not have to be moved elsewhere as the place was considered safe. These families moved into the bunkhouses only on Thursday.