Classes, gov’t work suspended in Tacloban, 6 towns due to floods

Heavy rains due to a low pressure area resulted in the massive flooding in Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY TACLOBAN CITY COUNCILOR JERRY UY

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte—Classes and work in government offices have been suspended in Tacloban City and six towns in Leyte since Monday due to floods triggered by heavy rains.

Arvin Monge, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said only those involved in frontline services such as health, social works and engineering were not covered by the suspension order.

He said hundreds of residents in the towns of Palo, Tanauan, Dagami, Alangalang, Abuyog and Tunga were evacuated on Monday because of the floods.

“I cannot exactly tell you how many families were affected by the flood as they returned to their respective houses today (Tuesday) after the water level subsided,” Monge said.

Still, he added, classes and government work remained suspended since the rains continued on Tuesday.

READ: Visayas, Mindanao to get more rain on Tuesday

The provincial disaster officer also asked residents and officials to monitor current weather bulletins as preventive measure.

In the meantime, separate landslides were reported in Barangays (villages) Olisihan and Agas-Agas in Sogod town, Southern Leyte province, and another along a national highway in Sitio Cagang, Barangay Polahongon in Mahaplag town in Leyte due to the heavy rains.

Teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways were immediately deployed to clear the affected areas./rga

Heavy rains due to a low pressure area resulted in the massive flooding in Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY TACLOBAN CITY COUNCILOR JERRY UY