2 dead, 3 missing in Eastern Samar due to cold front

TACLOBAN CITY—Two persons, including an 11-year-old boy died in Eastern Samar while three others went missing due to rough seas and flooding.

Heavy rains also triggered flooding and evacuation in Capiz province.

Ervin Rodriguez, 11, of Barangay Libertad in Maslog town drowned on Saturday.

Pedoy Caratay, a fishermen from San Policarpo town, died while his companions Lorenzo Picardal and Etoy Mila remained missing.

Their companion, Jojo Placiente, was rescued Monday afternoon in Barangay Cabatoan, Palapag in Northern Samar.//

The fishermen went out to the sea on Saturday amid bad weather.

“Search and rescue operations are still ongoing to find the two missing fishermen,” Josefina Titong, Eastern Samar provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said in a phone interview.

Another fisherman, Ben Candido, Jr. of Barangay Central in Arteche town, was reported missing. His companion Elvis Baje was rescued.

At least 2,557 families in Jipapad, among the flood-prone towns in Eastern Samar, were hit by massive flooding that reached up to four meters, Titong said.

Based on the initial report of the town’s disaster risk reduction and management office, P10 million worth of public property and agriculture were damaged due to the incessant rains brought by the tail end of a cold front.#