In Eastern Visayas, relentless rainfall caused by a shear line has led to significant disruptions, closing several major roads due to landslides and flooding. On Monday, February 10, 2025, a section of the Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Rawis Road in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, was completely blocked by approximately 80 cubic meters of debris from a landslide, severing the connection between Eastern and Northern Samar provinces. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has mobilized equipment and crews to clear the road, urging motorists to exercise caution, especially near construction sites during the rainy season.
In Leyte, flooding rendered a road in Barangay Liberty, Mayorga town, impassable, affecting the nautical highway that connects Luzon to Mindanao. Drivers were forced to take a longer detour through Mayorga, La Paz, and Javier. Another flooded road in San Isidro, Sta. Fe, Leyte, was only accessible to heavy vehicles due to river overflows in Mondragon, Northern Samar.
The impact of the heavy rains extended beyond road closures. In La Paz, Leyte, a landslide buried several homes in Bocawon village, though a family of eight managed to survive. The shear line’s effects prompted several local government units in Eastern Visayas to suspend classes and government work on Monday.
The flooding was particularly severe in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, where all 13 villages were submerged, affecting 2,817 families, with two families seeking shelter in an evacuation center. Power outages were reported starting Monday morning. Other towns in Eastern Samar, including Maslog, Arteche, Dolores, Can-avid, and Balangkayan, also experienced flooding. The Department of Education in Eastern Samar suspended classes in numerous towns due to the widespread impact of the weather conditions.