Over 90,000 affected by shear line flooding in Eastern Samar

Eastern Samar — More than 90,000 individuals were affected by flooding triggered by days of intense rainfall caused by a shear line, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

In a report released Tuesday, the PDRRMO said that as of 5:30 p.m. on 6 January 2026, a total of 32,198 families, or 90,531 individuals, from 12 municipalities and Borongan City were affected by the weather disturbance.

At least 717 families from the towns of Jipapad, Maslog, Balangiga, and Arteche were forced to evacuate over the weekend due to flooding. The evacuees were able to return home after floodwaters began to recede on Monday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the PDRRMO said several barangays in seven municipalities remained flooded, although water levels continued to go down following improved weather conditions since Monday.

The worst flooding was recorded in three barangays in the town proper of Maslog, where floodwaters reportedly reached up to five meters at the height of the flooding.

Authorities have yet to receive reports on damage to houses, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, two fishermen from the town of Llorente who went out to sea on January 2 despite rough conditions were reported missing.

One of them, 25-year-old Ian Allestre, was rescued on Monday in Salcedo town. His companion, 50-year-old Anthony Flores, was found dead early Wednesday morning.

Allestre said their fishing boat capsized around noon on Sunday due to strong waves, causing the two men to become separated while trying to swim back to shore.

Flores’ body was discovered along the shoreline by fishermen from the nearby town of Hernani before dawn on Wednesday.