In a proactive move to safeguard lives, over 26,000 residents from Northern Samar have been relocated to evacuation centers as Super Typhoon Pepito, known internationally as Man-yi, edges closer to the Bicol Region. The evacuation, which took place on the night of November 15, 2024, in Catarman, was a response to the looming threat of the typhoon. The Northern Samar police provincial office captured the urgency of the situation in a photograph showcasing the forced evacuation efforts. The provincial disaster risk reduction management office reported that the 26,204 individuals, comprising 7,012 families, hail from 569 villages prone to flooding, landslides, and storm surges. Governor Edwin Ongchuan emphasized the importance of staying in the evacuation centers until conditions improve and local authorities give the all-clear. The affected residents come from various towns including Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Las Navas, Lavezares, Lope de Vega, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, and San Roque. In a related development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Eastern Visayas regional office reported that 18,190 individuals from Eastern Samar and Samar provinces were preemptively evacuated. Joshua Kempis, the DSWD regional information officer, stated that data collection efforts are ongoing to assess the situation and ensure readiness. Coastal areas are on high alert for potential life-threatening inundation due to rising seawater and high waves. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has deployed teams to Northern Samar and Eastern Samar to manage preparedness and response, aiming for zero casualties. As of 2 p.m. on Saturday, tropical cyclone warning signal number 3 was hoisted over parts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, with signal number 2 covering central Eastern Samar and northern Samar, and signal number 1 affecting the rest of Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and parts of Leyte.
