‘Bising’ displaces 68,000 people in Bicol, Eastern Visayas

Heavy rains and punishing winds forced more than 68,000 individuals to leave their homes and stay at evacuation centers while two persons reportedly died as typhoon “Bising” (international name: Surigae) battered Bicol (Region 5) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said that 18,467 families composed of 68,490 individuals were preemptively evacuated in Bicol and Eastern Visayas.

In Bicol, a total of 15,852 families comprised of 57,793 individuals were preemptively evacuated in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon provinces.

Majority of the evacuees were from the towns of Malinao (17,574), Tiwi (9,562), Camalig (3,959) and Rapu-Rapu (1,451) in Albay; Virac (9,372), Baras (3,052), San Miguel (2,775), and Gigmoto (2,002) in Catanduanes.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,615 families consisted of 10,697 residents in Eastern Visayas were brought to temporary shelters in Biliran, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, and Leyte provinces.

The towns with the most number of evacuees were Lapinig (4,214) and Laoang (1,355) in Northern Samar; and Guiuan (1,360) in Eastern Samar.

The NDRRMC was also verifying two reported casualties in Eastern Visayas.

Local civil defense officials said a 79-year-old man identified as Alberto Wales, of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, reportedly died due to severe head injuries a er being hit by an uprooted coconut tree.

Fisherman Louie Din, 40, of San Jose, Northern Samar, also reportedly went missing a er going into the sea with three other companions at the height of the typhoon. His companions safely returned to their homes, authorities said.