Floods have affected thousands of families in Samar Island, Philippines, after a period of heavy rain that began on 16 December, 2016.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported on Sunday that almost 73,000 people from 16,426 families have been affected in Eastern, Northern and Western Samar provinces. Over 100 villages have been flooded. Some of the worst hit areas include Jipapad, Maslog, Can-avid, Taft and Arteche. At least 5 houses have been completely destroyed by the floods.
The flooding has forced 52,674 people to evacuate, and 26 emergency centres have been set up to accommodate those displaced.
According to local media, 2 people have died in the floods in Eastern Samar.
DSWD said that the torrential rains were due to the effect of the tail-end of a cold front. Over 280 mm of rain fell in some parts of Samar Island in 24 hours, around half the amount normally seen for the whole of December.
Rainfall
24 Hour period, 16 to 17 December
- Catarman – 287.0 mm
- Catbalogan – 154.4 mm
- Borongan – 195.8 mm
- Guiuan – 71.3 mm
