Floods claim two victims in Eastern Samar

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
January 17, 2011

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –  Two more warm bodies succumbed to death due to the flooding that has plagued Eastern Samar.

In today’s update of the Eastern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council aired over Radyo ng Bayan-DYES, Peregerio Balase, PDRRMC coordinator said that one Balbina Herbosan, 89 years old from Barangay Malogo, Can-avid town and another Eustaquio Dacles from Maslog town died.

The casualty from Malogo, Can-avid drowned while Dacles from Maslog had a heart ailment and could not be brought to the hospital due to the risky flood waters.

To date, Eastern Samar mourns for eight casualties, with some P371 million damages in agriculture and infrastructure with some P91 million damages in rice crops alone.

Hardest hit is Dolores town, considered the rice granary of the province. Vegetable crops suffered damages in Borongan, Llorente, Maslog and Sulat, according to Balase as they reported by Balase.

Relief operations are still going on even during the weekends as they did last Saturday in Maydolong town.

“I am thankful to Sen. Escudero who donated some 50 sacks of rice,” added Balase.

He added that An Waray Party List also donated some goods for relief, an NGO based in Moonwalk, Parañaque and ABS-CBN were some of the entities that pledged to assist the province in this time of calamity.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mariane Isederio of the Provincial Health Office has distributed hygiene kits to affected families courtesy of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).