Philippines – Tropical Depression 33W Brings Flooding and Landslides

Heavy rain from Tropical Depression 33W (known as Samuel in the Philippines) has caused flooding and landslides on the island of Samar in Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines.

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Depression 33W in the Sulu Sea on Nov. 21, 2018. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

Philippines News Agency (PNA) said that the provinces of Western Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar have all been affected. At least one person has died in floods in Palapag, Northern Samar. Mudslides have blocked roads, isolating some villages in Northern Samar.

Evacuations have been carried out in several areas of Northern and Eastern Samar provinces, as well as some areas of Bicol Region. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that 61,574 people (17,141 families) were affected in 128 barangays across both regions.