Boy killed, thousands displaced as heavy rains cause floods, landslides in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY –– Heavy rains spawned by the tail end of a frontal system continue to affect Eastern Visayas as floods and landslides displaced thousands of families and killed a 4-year-old boy.

Various local government units like Tacloban City and Palo town, both in Leyte and the provincial government of Biliran and the municipal governments of Caibiran, Kawayan, and Naval, all in Biliran province, suspended work and classes.

The Eastern Visayas disaster management office reported that 3,634 families or 18,170 individuals were evacuated as floodwaters rose.

The affected families were from the towns of Sulat, Maslog, Dolores, Can-avid, and Taft.

The provincial government has provided food to the affected families.

The provincial disaster management office said a 4-year-old boy drowned after a motorized banca capsized in the waters off Oguius Island in Oras town.

Landslides were also reported in Barangay Binalonan, Taft in Eastern Samar; Barangay Kahupian, Sogod town in Southern Leyte; and Barangay San Rafael in Hinabangan town, Samar province.

In Catubig town, Northern Samar, continuous rains have displaced 106 families or 523 persons, said municipal disaster management officer Mark Romulo Luz.

Luz said that while the flood water has subsided, they were still on alert as they continued to experience slight to moderate rains.

Several towns in Leyte, like Dulag, Carigara, Palo, and Capoocan, have experienced floods.

In Southern Leyte, a major river in Sogod town, the Subangdako, overflowed due to the incessant rain.

Edited by LZB