Heavy rains due to shear line, LPA combination leave 1 dead, over 720,000 people affected
Heavy rains brought by the combination of a Shear Line and a Low Pressure Area (LPA) in northeastern part of Mindanao left at least one person dead and more than 720,000 people affected due to flooding in 182 areas in at least five regions in the country.
According to weather experts, a shear line is created when the cold winds of the northeast monsoon, or amihan, interacts with the hot winds in tropical areas like the Philippines, especially from November to February.
The combination of the shear line and the LPA caused massive flooding especially in Eastern Viisayas and nearby regions.
A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the fatality was recorded in Eastern Visayas after a female resident was reportedly hit by an uprooted tree.
The NDRRMC, however, said the recorded fatality is still for validation along with four people injured.
In the report, the NDRRMC said a total of 180,788 families composed of 721,627 persons were affected by the flooding in the southern part of Luzon that include Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and some parts of Mindanao.
Of the affected families, a total of 14,718 families of them, composed of 40,454 persons, are staying in evacuation centers.
A total of 21 landslides were also recorded, mostly in Eastern Visayas.
As of Thursday morning, Nov. 23, a total of 39 roads remain not passable due to either flooding or landslides while 38 towns experienced power interruption.
The NDRRMC report also stated that 16 houses in Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas were totally damaged while 87 houses were partially damaged.
Class suspensions were declared in 169 cities and municipalities while Northern Samar has already declared a state of calamity.