Marcos to gov’t: Preposition rescue equipment ahead of Marce onslaught

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits flood victims in evacuation centers in Bula town and Naga City in Camarines Sur in this file photo taken on October 26, 2024.—Photo screengrabbed from Bongbong Marcos’ Facebook live

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday directed government agencies to immediately preposition rescue equipment and other assets in preparation for Typhoon Marce’s  (international name: Yinxing) onslaught.

Marcos also ordered the 24-hour monitoring of bodies of water that might overspill and cause flooding.

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“Activate all rescue equipment across all levels of government in every agency that can contribute resources, especially vehicles,” he said in Filipino.

“Relief goods should be deployed to secured storage facilities so these can be quickly distributed to those affected,” he added.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Marce might cause a storm surge within the next 48 hours in the low-lying coastal areas in Northern Luzon.

READ: Marcos orders gradual release of water in dams

The storm surge warning covers Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Isabela.

Marce was last spotted 305 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, or 315 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph.