Rolly leaves 5 dead in Catanduanes

MANILA, Philippines — At least five people were killed when Super Typhoon Rolly barreled through Catanduanes over the weekend, Governor Joseph Cua said Monday.

“Lima po patay, nalunod po noong tumatawid ng ilog, inabot ng baha,” Cua said in an interview over People’s Television Network.

(Five died, they drowned while crossing a river, the flood reached them.)

There is still no power supply in the province after 80 percent of its electric facilities were damaged, Cua added.

Earlier, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said there is limited communication in Catanduanes after Rolly destroyed telecommunication lines in the province.

Cua also estimated P400 million damage in abaca, Catanduanes’ main product, and P200-million damage in other crops due to Rolly’s brunt.

“Ang Catanduanes is known for, ang main product namin is abaca, estimate namin na damage is about P400 million ng abaca. Other crops po mga P200 million,” Cua said.

(Catanduanes is known for its main product abaca and its estimated damage is about P400 million. Other crops’ estimated damage is around P200 million.)

The Catanduanes chapter of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provides 150 evacuees at the Provincial Capitol with hot meals. PRC will continue to monitor the situation and provide aid to those who will be needing help. Image from Philippine Red Cross FB page

Citing information from the Office of Civil Defense, Cua said 65 percent of houses made of light materials were damaged while 20 percent of bigger houses were damaged.

Cua added that some 15,000 families were affected by Rolly, which was said to be the strongest tropical cyclone in the world this year.

Rolly’s first landfall early Sunday morning was in Bato, Catanduanes which prompted the weather bureau to hoist Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 5 over the province.

JPV