Biliran Province logs 10 casualties due to Opong

The Province of Biliran logged 10 casualties at the onslaught of Opong, as of Monday, September 29, 2025. Several school buildings, bridges, and over 1,000 houses were destroyed.

In Caibiran and Kawayan towns, floods carried mud, rocks and boulders, and other debris that resulted in fatalities.

Four of the 10 persons perished in Maripipi Island because of a storm surge.

“Based on the information is that, nasa evacuation center na sila, pero bumalik sila sa bahay nila sa may Maripipi that caused, yun yung nagka-storm surge sa gabi, kaya na ano sila, naging casualty. Very sad,” according to Director Lord Byron Torrecarion of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 8.

Opong left two bridges initially impassable in the province, but as of this writing, one of the bridges is reopened to the public.

The aftermath of the storm rendered areas difficult to pass through because of boulders and mud carried by floods, OCD 8 stated further. Over 30 houses were inundated, while others were destroyed.

A total of 2,355 families, or 7,329 individuals, were evacuated to 78 evacuation centers in the province.

Several schools were flooded and plenty of classrooms were destroyed by debris carried by the floods.

"Pinasok yung nga silid-aralan natin, lahat hanggang tuhod yung tubig eh, after humupa na yung ano baha, yung naiwan na lang yung putik,” said Leo Reñola, school head (officer-in- charge capacity), of Busali Elementary School in San Antonio, Biliran.

Moreover, road clearing operation and water rationing are ongoing in Purok Million, Barangay Punta, Ormoc City, Leyte Province affected by flooding.

In the Province of Northern Samar, Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan led the distribution of relief goods in the island of San Vicente.

Over 1,000 houses in the province were also devastated as Opong barreled through the northern section of Samar Island.

According to Josh Echano, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Mangement Office (PDRRMO), a total of 1,475 houses in Northern Samar was destroyed.

Restoration of power is ongoing, as of this writing, in places in Samar Island and Biliran.

Families in Eastern Visayas Region affected by the ill effects of Opong reached a total of 7,575, or over 27,000 individuals. —GMA Regional TV