Residents here began moving to evacuation centers ahead of Typhoon ‘Tino’s’ expected landfall this week, recalling the lessons from Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan) that struck the city 12 years ago.
Among the first to leave was Ma. Corazon Liberty Ladrera, who, with her husband and six children, sought shelter at the Tacloban Convention Center (Astrodome) before local authorities issued evacuation orders.
‘We didn’t wait for instructions. We don’t want what happened during Yolanda to happen again,’ she said.
As of Monday morning, 11 families (62 individuals) were staying at the Astrodome, with more expected after Mayor Alfred Romualdez ordered the forced evacuation of residents in coastal and landslide-prone areas.
Moderate to heavy showers were reported by midday.
Romualdez, in a video message, said all city offices and emergency units were on full alert. He also suspended work and classes and imposed a liquor ban as part of precautionary measures.
Other shelters include public schools, barangay halls, and churches.
In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said 109 families (1,776 individuals) from 15 coastal villages had been preemptively evacuated to avoid possible storm surges and flooding