Eastern Visayas, Philippines: The Office of Civil Defense Region 8 (OCD 8) reported that two individuals tragically lost their lives due to landslides in the Eastern Visayas region, consequences of the torrential rains brought on by the shear line. OCD 8 Director Lord Byron Torrecarion, in an interview on Dobol B TV, stated that the reports of fatalities are still under validation, with official confirmation pending from local government units.
The region witnessed at least 11 landslides amid the inclement weather, affecting areas like Catarman, Lope de Vega, Liloan, Bontoc, Catbalogan City, Tagapul-an, Jipapad, Oras, and Babatngon. The heavy rains led to soil saturation, resulting in these catastrophic landslides. Additionally, floods were reported in 81 barangays across Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
In response to the massive flooding, over 54,000 individuals, or approximately 24,000 families in Northern Samar, were evacuated, as informed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). This emergency response highlights the severe impact of the weather conditions on the local communities, prompting urgent actions to safeguard residents and mitigate further losses.