AT LEAST one person was killed and thousands were displaced in Eastern Visayas as Typhoon Bising (Surigae) brought fierce winds and intense rain in the region over the weekend.
Authorities identified the fatality as 79-year-old Alberto Wales, who was hit by a coconut tree in Barangay San Isidro, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.
Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, said 10,477 people evacuated across the region.
The evacuees were from Northern Samar, with 5,667 persons; Eastern Samar, 2,637; Biliran, 739; Samar, 1,045; Leyte, 115; and Tacloban City, 274.
As of noon Monday, April 19, 2021, the region has established 126 evacuation centers, with 39 in Northern Samar, 35 in Eastern, 14 in Biliran, 26 in Samar, 5 in Leyte, and seven in Tacloban.
The total number of stranded ships has reached 12, with three in Liloan port in Liloan, Southern Leyte, and nine in Allen port in Allen, Northern Samar.
The stranded vehicles, on the other hand, reached 524, with 152 in Liloan port and San Ricardo port in Southern Leyte, and 372 in Allen port.
A total of 69 towns remained without electricity, as of Thursday afternoon, April 15.
Roads that were affected include Sogod, Southern Leyte to Mahaplag, Leyte; Barangay Bigo, Arteche to Jipapad road and Barangay Binaloan, Taft; barangay road in San Roman to San Miguel in Victoria, Northern Samar; and provincial road from San Agustin to Pagsanghan proper.
Flooding occurred in 96 areas in the region, with 42 areas affected in Northern Samar, 49 in Eastern Samar, and five in Samar.
The police regional command deployed 130 search and rescue personnel and another 1,581 on standby.
Police also rescued 14 individuals, with three from Biliran Police Provincial Office and 11 from Northern Samar Police Provincial Office.
No major damage in government properties was reported, according to Rentuaya.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of "Bising" was spotted 250 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of Monday night, April 19, 2021. (SunStar Philippines)