Floods, landslides, power outages reported amid Bising rains

As Typhoon Bising made its presence over the weekend, several areas in Bicol and Eastern Visayas experienced floods, landslides, and power outages, according to Unang Balita reports on Monday.

In Catbalogan, Samar, for example, many stores in a public market were flooded while roofs were nearly torn off by strong winds, according to James Agustin's report.

The Taft-Buray highway in Paranas was temporarily closed due to possible landslides. Power outages were also reported in the area due to toppled electric posts.

In Eastern Samar, around 100 families were evacuated.

According to a report by GMA News stringer Jinky Tabor, around 27,000 residents living in coastal villages and landslide-prone areas were evacuated in Catanduanes and Albay.

Due to huge waves, water reached some barangays.

The local government unit of Catanduanes, meanwhile, had a hard time distributing assistance to stranded passengers in a port in Tabaco, Albay, as they had to strictly follow safety and health protocols in light of the COVID-19 threat.

According to a report of GMA News stringer Mike Jaucian, over 57,000 people were evacuated in Bicol.

Storm surges were also experienced in Tiwi, Albay. Due to the threat of the typhoon, some farmers in Ligao City harvested their crops ahead of schedule.

In Eastern Visayas, at least nine areas reported flooding, according to a report of GMA News stringer Robert Dejon.

In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, at least 346 families were evacuated.
A road was temporarily closed due to possible landslide in Barangay Dinaluan in Taft.

In Northern Samar, at least 491 families from coastal areas have evacuated from their homes in Catarman, Gamay, Las Vanas, Lapinig, and Mondragon.

Some passengers stranded in Port of Allen received food from the government while waiting for the suspended operation to resume.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said at least 2,752 passengers were stranded in Bicol, Easter Visayas, and some parts in Mindanao.

At least 1,069 cargoes and 38 vessels were also stranded, he said.

Due to the threat of Bising, at least 56 ships and 53 motorbancas temporarily took shelter.

Eight areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 while 13 remained under TCWS No. 1 while Bising turned northwestward while maintaining its strength, PAGASA said on Monday morning.

At 4 a.m. on Monday, the center of Bising's eye was located at 250 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes (14.1 °N, 126.5 °E). It was moving north northwestward at 10 km/h. —KBK, GMA News