The massive flooding that hit parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao has now killed at least two persons and affected more than 300,000 individuals, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday, Nov. 22.
A situational report from the NDRRMC said the shear line and low pressure area (LPA) brought significant amount of rains over Calabarzon (Region 4A), Bicol Region (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Caraga (Region 13) which affected a total of 81,050 families composed of 307,087 individuals.
Of those affected, there were 3,670 families or 5,831 individuals displaced by the flooding. They were staying in 104 evacuation centers.
Office of Civil Defense Region 8 (OCD-8) Director Lord Torracadio said two individuals in Eastern Visayas were reportedly killed due to the massive flooding in the region.
"Dalawa sa region 'yung casualties but we cannot release pa po their names because under verification pa po ng MDM [Management of the Dead and Missing] Cluster natin under DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] (There are two casualties in our region but we cannot release their names yet because these are still under verification by the MDM Cluster under DILG)," Torracadio said in a radio interview with Radyo 630.
Torracadio said torrential rains were still observed in parts of Region 8 particularly in Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar as of Wednesday morning.
In terms of flooding, Torracadio said a total of 31 barangays in the municipalities of Catarman, Lope de Vega, San Roque, Catubig, Palabag and Bobon in Northern Samar; 29 barangays in Calbayon, San Jose de Buan and Gandara in Samar; and 44 barangays in Jipapad, Arteche, Borongan, Canavid, Maydolong and Maslog in Eastern Samar were affected.
"As of this time, mayroon pong mga areas na bumaba na 'yung tubig but this is still being monitored because although there is light rain na lang this morning, kagabi po malakas pa 'yung ulan sa Northern Samar (As of this time, floodwater has subsided in several areas but this is still being monitored because although light rain was felt this morning, the rain was strong last night in Northern Samar)," he shared.
"Mayroon pa rin pong lugar na matataas 'yung tubig especially dito sa mga catch basin natin like Jipapad and Arteche (There are areas where floodwater remains high such as our catch basin areas like Jipapad and Arteche)," he added.
To help residents affected by flooding, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted search and rescue (SAR) operations in various areas in Region 8.
The PCG said around 80 families composed of 400 individuals were rescued in flood-prone areas in Brgy. Macagtas, Brgy. Molave, Brgy. Yakal, Brgy. Narra and Brgy. Ipil-ipil in Catarman, Northern Samar after a forced evacuation was implemented by the local government.
SAR operations were also conducted in the municipalities of Biri, Palapag, and San Jose in Northern Samar.
The NDRRMC said a total of P3.39 million worth of relief assistance has been given to the flood victims.