‘Urduja’ forces more than 3,000 people to evacuate in Masbate

DIMASALANG, Masbate — At least 564 families, or a total of 3,310 persons, were evacuated in San Pascual town on  Burias island in Masbate province on Saturday due to the heavy rains and strong winds brought by Tropical Storm “Urduja.” Rudy Ruiz Sr. of the San Pascual Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said that there were 120 private houses, 71 classrooms, five barangay halls and six chapels used as evacuation areas for the displaced residents. The Masbate Provincial DRRMO placed San Pascual under state of calamity also on Saturday. Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, were placed under Storm Signal No. 2 when Urduja made landfall in Eastern Samar.