Severe Tropical Storm Maring ravages Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The situation in several Northern Luzon areas turned for the worst as Severe Tropical Storm Maring hits Fuga Island in Cagayan.

In the province of Cagayan, which is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2, 1,750 families or 7,116 individuals are currently affected by flooding and have been evacuated from their homes, according to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office (PIO).

The municipality of Claveria in Cagayan has recorded one death due to drowning.

Authorities are still evacuating affected families, as of this writing.

https://www.facebook.com/cagayanPIO/posts/2061020724079271

Below is the list of rescue and emergency hotlines for residents affected by Maring in Cagayan:

https://www.facebook.com/cagayanvalleyforum/posts/4538981102823212

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Office in the province of La Union was also placed under “red alert” due to Maring.

https://www.facebook.com/LGUlaunion/posts/235903618571216

La Union is currently under Signal No. 1.

La Union residents who may need emergency rescue or assistance can contact the following:

https://www.facebook.com/LGUlaunion/posts/235983238563254

Netizens also quickly took to social media to raise awareness on the current situations in the affected LGUs with #CagayanNeedsHelp hitting the first spot on Philippine trends and #LaUnionNeedsHelp landing at number four on Twitter.

Vice President Leni Robredo also confirmed that the Office of the Vice President’s team is now sending assistance to victims of Maring who are seeking help through social media.

We have formed two teams already to assist those needing help in Cagayan/Isabela and in Benguet/La Union. Ready to deploy our teams already to provide relief assistance but we need help from those who have equipment for rescue ops.

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) October 11, 2021

Maring’s eye was last located over the coastal waters of Aparri (Fuga Island), Cagayan as of 10:00 p.m. It currently has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 145 kph.

Meanwhile, nine areas in Luzon remain under Signal No. 2 while 15 other areas are under Signal No 1.

/MUF