Thousands flee as Typhoon Nina crosses Southern Tagalog

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna—Evacuation from low-lying and flood-prone areas in the Southern Tagalog provinces continued early Monday as the region began to feel Typhoon Nina’s (international name: Nock-Ten) heavy rains and strong winds.

Reports from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) said 2,461 families (11,737 persons) were evacuated in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon).

In Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa), 1,393 families (3,978 persons) also fled to village halls and schools to escape possible flooding and landslides.

In Laguna, Rommel Palacol of the Laguna Action Center said they began to feel the typhoon’s effects around 5 a.m. Monday. He said 66 families in Laguna were evacuated from Los Baños, nine in Pila, and 17 from Kalayaan town.

DRRMC Calabarzon director Vicente Tomazar said they expect reports of heavy damages from Southern Quezon after the typhoon makes a landfall in San Andres, Quezon.

In Mimaropa , the evacuees came from the provinces of Romblon, Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro. Power supply has been cut in Looc and Banton, Romblon since Sunday afternoon.