Thousands return home in Northern Samar as 'Nina' heads to Luzon

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) -- At least 4,317 residents of Northern Samar's low lying communites have returned home Monday morning after spending Christmas Day in evacuation centers for fear of typhoon Nina’s (international name Nock-Ten) threat.

Authorities in Northern Samar province, which was placed under tropical cyclone warning signal number 2 even before Nina’s landfall, conducted pre-emptive evacuation on Christmas Eve to ensure zero casualties.

Of the total affected individuals, 409 are in Pambujan, 3,384 in Rosario, 124 in Laoang, and 400 in Catarman town. These individuals comprising of 1,086 families, stayed in 16 designated evacuation centers meant for residents in low lying communities.

"The local government units were very proactive. All affected families were supported by local resources although relief goods from the national government have been prepositioned," said Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Edgar Posadas.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office had a stockpile of 3,020 family food packs ready for augmentation to local government units.

The OCD regional office has not received reports of evacuation in neighboring Samar and Eastern Samar provinces

Despite placing five provinces in the region under tropical cyclone warning signal on Saturday and Sunday, the region only experienced rain showers, the OCD reported.

"The impact of heavy rains due to the tail end of a cold front last week in Samar Island was more damaging as it caused flooding and rendered some roads and bridges impassable," Posadas added.

The widespread flooding has killed five persons last week, according to OCD.

Packing a maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph, the typhoon has made its first landfall over Bato, Catanduanes at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

After hitting the land, it moved faster northwest, sparing the region from its destructive winds and heavy rains. As of Monday noontime, Nina had its seventh landfall over Batangas province. (PNA)

JMC/SQM