By Sarwell Meniano/PNA
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 13 people have been confirmed dead in Samar while five others remained missing after Tropical Depression Usman crossed Samar Island before New Year, the Office of the Civil Defense reported on Thursday.
Of the 13 deaths, five were from Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; two from Victoria, Northern Samar; one from Catarman, Northern Samar; three from Calbayog City, Samar; and two from Paranas, Samar.
Most of the victims were drowned after flood waters entered populated communities in the two provinces of Samar Island. The five missing persons are from Calbayog City and Victoria town.
The most affected area is Lope de Vega with all 22 villages were flooded, washing away 439 houses and partially destroyed 1,431 houses. Landslides and flooding isolated the town for several days.
The town, which was placed under state of calamity Thursday, is within the highway that links Calbayog City and Catarman, the capital of Northern Samar.
Rayden Cabregas, OCD Eastern Visayas information officer said clearing operation is still ongoing, but all primary highways are now passable although some half lanes are closed to traffic.
“We will continue to monitor until all missing persons are found and all bodies are retrieved,” Cabregas told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Officials of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and their provincial counterparts will meet on Catarman town on Friday for the post-disaster assessment and response activities.
The official said they will find out what went really wrong that some lives have been lost due to tropical depression despite several advisories sent to local government units, including those areas Eastern Samar, where the weather disturbance made its first landfall.
“All warnings have been cascaded to local government units and people in vulnerable communities have been warned, but some residents refused to evacuate,” he noted.
Local government units identified priority needs such as relief goods, access to potable water and sanitation for those who remain displaced, shelter repair and debris removal.
“Usman” began affecting the country on Dec. 28 as it enhanced northwest monsoon winds, bringing heavy rain across southern part of Luzon and Eastern Visayas regions until New Year’s Eve.
