Remembering Ormoc on its first major tragedy in the morning of November 5, 1991, Typhoon Uring (internationally named Thelma) brought heavy rainfall over Leyte including Ormoc City, after 3 hours of massive rain, it had caused landslides on the mountain range as it washed away huge logs, many properties were devastated, more than 5,000 people were killed, others were injured and many people were reportedly missing by tremendous flashflood especially Isla Verde, the heavily populated area which was located near the city proper. Illegal logging and deforestation were to blame such incident that caused landslide and could no longer hold the water on its exceeding capacity.
That moment was a mournful day of Ormoc City. The city was so dark, no electricity, lack of water and lighting supply due to clogging and flooding, electric power were destroyed and there was lack of food supply because communication were cut off and roads were impassible for 5 days.
Then, Ormocanons received bountiful donations coming from the national government and even other countries. The Mayor leads the drive towards the reconstruction of Ormoc City including reforestation, resettlement facilities, drainage, water & lighting facilities. Flood mitigation project was implemented with the assistance of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to address the threat of floods in the city.
Despite the tragedy, the city has shown a speedy, steady progress and stability. Investors were coming into the city and have embarked on modernization, a wonderful place to visit for pleasure.
Reynenila P. Arbis
1991 FLASH FLOOD
However, after 22 years, a massive Typhoon Yolanda “Haiyan” happened at 3:00 am on November 8, 2013. The typhoon made a landfall in Eastern Visayas wherein the super typhoon reached its peak strength as it struck the islands of Samar and Leyte. Thus, the people in the affected areas were so frightened, the huge typhoon affected Ormoc City and 44 other provinces. Even if the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) warned all officials including national, regional including municipalities to prepare for the said disastrous typhoon. But still 17 people were killed and some were injured in our place. However, Tacloban City had numerous casualties due to storm surge but the eye of the super typhoon crippled 95% of the city. Thousands of families were totally homeless and most of the resources and properties were devastated.
Same thing happened during the flashfloods in 1991 that people suffered from lack of water supply, no electricity and food supply. Overflowing blessings came from all over the world to save the city and back to its beauty and continue to grow to be one of the “First Class City of Region 8”.
However, the memories of the devastation of the typhoon are still in the minds of the folks who survived and the people who dealt with Yolanda’s aftermath.
Reynenila P. Arbis
TYPHOON YOLANDA
Almost 4 years after Yolanda’s disaster, a magnitude of 6.5 earthquake was centered in Leyte provinces on July 6, 2017 at 4:00 pm, Thursday due to the movement of the Philippine fault zone. People in Ormoc panicked thinking that a tsunami will follow after the strong quake. The tremor lifted the ground and cracked concrete streets including Ormoc Airport, school buildings, houses in upland villages and other business area collapsed. Two deaths were reported and 4 people missing from the most strongly felt area in Ormoc City and Kananga, Leyte.
Then another magnitude 5.4 aftershock on July 10, 2017, Monday happened in Ormoc City wherein traumatic experienced by most people were shown and hundreds of them were brought in the hospital. Thus, LGU declared Ormoc City and Kananga, Leyte under the state of calamity.
The city and other parts of Region VIII experienced the loss of electric power because the geothermal power plant and the NGCP substation were damaged. The trip off affected other provinces in Visayas because of the power interconnection. Thus, power interruption was experienced. After a week, the power resumed but rotating brownouts were done to suffice the power supply.
PHILVOCS recorded more than 900 hundred aftershocks from a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. The people in the affected area were placed in the designated evacuation center. The national government, LGU’s and other private sectors provided them all the things they needed.
Recently, the people of Ormoc City continue to pray for safety of all people that the strong quake will not happen again. Usual activities were back to normal after an orientation and psychosocial activities. The memories I had of these 3 disasters helped me a lot to learn and be informed better, and be prepared for the future.
Reynenila P. Arbis
2017 EARTHQUAKE
