Strong waves destroy 77 houses in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 29 -- Big waves badly damaged several houses in Northern Samar early Monday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported.

Northern Samar PDRRMO chief Rei Josiah Echano said strong waves as high as three meters destroyed 77 houses in coastal areas of Pambujan town.

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, the provincial government was still consolidating reports of damaged houses in Catarman town, the provincial capital and Mapanas town.

“We still have to confirm reports that other towns are also affected by strong waves associated with the northeast monsoon and Typhoon Rosita,” Echano said in a phone interview.

In Mapanas town, at least 11 houses and a day care center were badly destroyed when strong waves battered a coastal village of Magtaon in Mapanas, Northern Samar Monday dawn.

Julius Macayayong, Mapanas town assistant municipal disaster risk reduction officer, said two-meter high waves damaged houses made of light materials around 4 a.m.

“Some houses were completely washed out while others were partially damaged. It happened despite fair weather early Monday,” he said in a mobile phone interview.

Affected residents received food packs from the local social welfare and development office as they took shelter in their relatives’ houses.

Magtaon is a coastal community some eight kilometers away from the town center.

The PDRRMO had alerted 20 coastal towns in Northern Samar to caution residents living along coastal areas against damaging waves.(SQM/PNA)