Memories of Yolanda drive Eastern Visayas residents to evacuation centers, hotels

The trauma caused by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 has caused many residents of Eastern Visayas to take shelter in evacuation centers and even in hotels amid the threat of Typhoon Tino.

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Nikko Sereno in “24 Oras” on Monday, some residents in Tacloban, Leyte checked-in at hotels to seek temporary shelter. Several hotels instantly become fully booked because of the inclement weather. 

For instance, Elizabeth Melgazo said she had a hard time looking for an available room in hotels before finally being able to book a stay. 

“We’ve been searching for hotels since morning, but all of them are fully booked. But we finally found one with an availability,” she said. “Some weren’t able to reserve a room.” 

But others were not as fortunate in finding available accommodations. 

“We were not expecting that hotels would be fully booked. Hotels in other cities are also fully booked,” said Robina Silaban, who came all the way from Borongan City, Eastern Samar to take the nursing licensure exam in Tacloban City on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, evacuees kept arriving at San Jose Central School since Sunday evening. 

“We get flooded when the rain is nonstop. But even without a typhoon, floodwater still enters our house,” said evacuee Lorna Cabatuan. 

Meanwhile, Guiuan, Eastern Samar has been on red alert since Sunday which forced more than 100 residents of Barangay Victory Island to evacuate. 

“The preventive evacuation will focus on those in storm surge areas, flood-prone areas, landslide-prone areas, and places that will be hit by strong winds,” said OCD-Eastern Visayas officer-in-charge Rey Gozon. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News