Several Calbayog residents to welcome New Year without a home due to Usman’s wrath

It will be a sad New Year's Eve for many residents of Calbayog City, Samar who lost their homes to the wrath of Tropical Depression Usman.

According to a report by GMA News' Saleema Refran aired over “24 Oras” on Monday, many of the storm's victims found their homes and belongings swept away by the floods or buried by landslides brought about by Usman.

Hours before the new year, Rodmark Goyola is still looking for things he can salvage from his washed-out home.

His family survived Usman's havoc by climbing a coconut tree.

"Pasalamat naman po kami 'di po kami naano...walang masamang nangyari, lalong-lalo na sa mga kapatid ko na maliliit,” Goyola said.

As a result, the family will now welcome the New Year with root crops to eat for media noche.

"Tiis na lang po kahit wala na. Makakaahon din naman,” Goyola's sister, Jennylyn. added.

Couple Virgilio and Alicia dela Cruz, on the other hand, are making do with drinking coffee since they do not have resources to spare.

“Napakalungkot ng buhay namin. Wala na kaming titirahan. Walang wala na po kami sa bagong taon. Wala na ang lahat. Wala na,” Alicia said.

Likewise, the roads in the province's Oquendo district are still covered in mud.

At least 46 barangays are flooded as of Monday night.

A chapel in Barangay Capacuhan, which served as evacuation center for the residents, was also not spared, sustaining damage from a landslide.

“Palakas nang palakas ang ulan. Tapos [ang] lupa, palambot nang palambot. Kaya bumuhos eoon sa simbahan. Mabuti na lang 'yung mga tao sa loob nagsilikas agad. Kung hindi, maraming namatayan,” Valentino Ragasa, one of the residents, said.

Based on the local government's tally, at least 4,000 families were affected by the flooding and landslides. — Llanesca T. Panti/BM, GMA News