OCD-8 Warns Residents Living in Low-lying, Coastal Areas of Possible Flooding, Landslide

Tacloban City (PNA) — The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) here has urged residents living in coastal and low-lying areas to be on alert for possible flooding and landslide that may be triggered by heavy rains induced by typhoon ‘Glenda.’

All concerned disaster risk reduction management councils (DRRMCs) are also advised to intensity the conduct of information dissemination in the eastern seaboard, said OCD 8 regional director, Dr. Blanche Gobenciong.

Typhoon signal number 3 has been hoisted over Northern Samar; signal number 2 in Eastern Samar and Western Samar and signal number 1 over northern Leyte and Biliran Island.

Currently, they are waiting updates from the Northern Samar PDRRMC that convened Monday for their needed preparation.

On the other hand, date received from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) of Tacloban disclosed some 150 families already evacuated at the Tacloban City Astrodome. These are families staying in tent cities in San Jose district’s Barangay 88.

Gobenciong added that they are coordinating with the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force for the evacuation of families in Magallanes district and Barangay 58, all in Tacloban City.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard-Catbalogan disclosed that some 1,540 passengers and 173 rolling cargoes are stranded at Northern Samar’s Allen Port as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Further, Lt. Senior Grade Paul C. Gonzales of PCG-Tacloban, disclosed that seven vessels are on standby at the Tacloban Port and two cargo vessels are on anchorage at the Cancabato Bay.

Two cargo vessels are also prevented from leaving Naval, Biliran and one in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Gonzales also added that their search and rescue teams have been directed to conduct coastal patrol to warn fisher folks to refrain from sailing out to the sea as part of precautionary measures in line with typhoon Glenda. (PNA) LAP/PGLENA/EGR/UTB