Eastern Visayas residents warned not to eat shellfish harvested from three bays due to red tide

Eastern Visayas fishermen and/or residents are warned not to catch and/or eat shellfish and "alamang" gathered from three bays which have been hit by red tide.

Shellfish ban was implemented in Carigara Bay, Irong Irong Bay, and Cambatutay Bay.

“Seawater samples collected along these areas are positive of paralytic shellfish poisoning-causing organism that is beyond the regulatory limit,” said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan Albaladejo.

Coastal areas in Eastern Visayas that are free of toxic red tide organisms are Cacabato Bay, San Pedro Bay, Ormoc Bay, Sogod Bay, Villareal Bay, Matarinao Bay and Maqueda Bay.

The BFAR further stated that fish, squid, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Source: SunStar Tacloban

VIRAL: Pope Francis visits Yolanda survivors in Tacloban, Leyte

Pope Francis, who arrived in Manila a few days ago with so many people waiting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), waves to the people (mostly survivors of typhoon Yolanda from various parts of Region 8) in Leyte while riding his Popemobile, wearing a yellow raincoat just like the people who braved the rain to see him.

Post by Rappler.

Video Courtesy: Rappler

372 aftershocks after Samar quake, Phivolcs reveals

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded at least 371 aftershocks since the 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Eastern Samar Friday night, it revealed on on Monday.

The agency said aftershocks, mostly in Guiuan and Burgos in Surigao del  Norte, reached as high as magnitude 5.

The tremor has affected 5,650 families or 28,064 persons in Surigao City, Burgos, San Isidro and Socorro, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

There were 115 houses damaged from the quake, 78 of which were totally damaged, mostly located in Giuian, Eastern Samar and Surigao City.

The cost of damages to infrastructure is estimated to be around P14.735 million.

Source: Inquirer Portal