TACLOBAN CITY — The state weather bureau issued on Monday a flood warning over Eastern Visayas due to heavy rains caused by tail end of a cold front.
In its flood advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has identified several rivers in six provinces that would likely be affected by heavy downpour.
These water courses are Sangputan, Palo, Solano, Daguitan, Marabong, Cadacan, Bongquirogon, Salug, Pagbanagaran, Pagsangahan, and Binahaan in Leyte; Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig, Palapag, Mano, and Gamay in Northern Samar.
Other affected rivers are Oras, Dolores, Ulot, Taft, Borongan, Suribao, Llorento, Balangiga, and Sulat in Eastern Samar; Basey, Silaga, Calbiga and Jibatan in Samar; and Bisay, Himbangan, and Pandan in Southern Leyte; and all river systems in Biliran province.
“Flooding in low-lying areas is highly possible because soils are saturated due to heavy rains over the past days,” said Mario Peñaranda, chief of Pagasa Tacloban station in a mobile phone interview.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has identified 2,433 villages in Region 8 as highly susceptible to flooding. The agency urged local governments to conduct appropriate preparedness and disaster risk reduction measures as needed and ensure preemptive or forced evacuation in the possible affected areas.
The incessant rain prompted the city government here to suspend classes in public and private elementary and secondary schools and work in the government in the regional capital on Monday.
Classes have been suspended in several towns in Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar and Northern Samar province. (PNA)
