AUTHORITIES in Eastern Visayas were on high alert as Tropical Storm Paeng brought torrential rains, causing floods and landslides in several towns in the region on Friday, October 28, 2022.
At least four fishermen were rescued after their boat capsized due to strong waves off the seawaters of San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
In the information released by Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, the fishermen were identified as Alberto Alenar Sr., 58; Alberto Alenar, 36; Dino Arsenio, 53; and Gregorio Cadao, 52.
All were from Barangay Taliwa and Pasil in Malitbog, Southern Leyte.
A 64-year-old fisherman was also reported missing in Barangay Veloso, Marabut, Samar.
Fedelito Gadaingan, married and resident of the said barangay, went fishing on board his motorized boat in the seawaters off Barangay Veloso early Friday morning.
As of Friday afternoon, he has yet to return home.
In Barangay Dolho, Bato, Leyte, several houses were also destroyed due to flooding.
Preparations for 'Paeng'
Meanwhile, sub-field officers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they were “closely coordinating with the local government units should they need resource augmentation support.”
The agency has already prepositioned some 37,515 family food packs (FFPs) and 14,342 non-food items in various strategic locations in the region.
Of this number, 14,243 FFPs were in Allen, Northern Samar; 1,031 in Catbalogan City, Samar; 1,650 in Naval, Biliran; 800 in Borongan City, Eastern Samar and 15,791 in the Regional Resource Operations Center, Palo, Leyte.
In local government units, 600 FFPs were in Almagro, Samar; 1,400 in Sto. Niño, Samar; 1,000 in Taft, Eastern Samar, and 1,000 in Giporlos, Eastern Samar.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, a total of 196 evacuation centers were identified across the region.
The total number of evacuees was 742 families or 242 individuals.
Stranded
Three flights were canceled at the DZR Airport in Tacloban City, while 1,482 people were stranded at various seaports.
At least 10 ships were stranded around Eastern Visayas, with three in Northern Samar, five in Southern Leyte, and two in Leyte.
The total number of vehicles stranded reached 232, with 196 in Allen, Northern Samar, two in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, and 34 in Liloan, Southern Leyte.
No electricity, roads not passable
Some areas without electricity include Barangay Monterico, Ormoc City (1), Silago, Southern Leyte (3, and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte (15).
Roads that were impassable were Barangay Binoloan, Taft Eastern Samar; Bato-Bontoc Road, Southern Leyte; Barangay Caray-Caray, Naval Biliran; Barangay Almeria, Biliran; and Barangay Lower Iyusan, Almeria.
The police regional command had 1,696 Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) personnel and 828 Reserved Standby Support Force (RSSF) on standby.
Classes were also suspended across the region.
“DPWH Leyte Fifth District Engineering Office maintenance crew continues to monitor the road condition. Flooding has not yet subsided as the weather condition has not yet improved,” the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, roads in Barangay Binaloan, Taft, Eastern Samar along the national road Wright-Taft-Borongan road were temporarily closed on Friday morning due to the possible occurrence of a landslide.
Motorists going in and out of the Eastern Samar province were advised to use the alternate route at the junction Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut road.
As of Friday afternoon, the center of Tropical Storm Paeng was spotted 180 kilometers East of Catarman, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 105 kph, and a central pressure of 990 hectopascals.
Paeng is moving west-northwestward at 25 kph, according to the state weather bureau. (SunStar Philippines)