Destruction in Cagayan as Marce exits PH

FLOODED FARMS Rice and corn farms and low-lying villages in Allacapan, Cagayan, remained submerged on Friday after Typhoon Marce dumped heavy rains that caused widespread flooding in the province. —PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLACAPAN MAYOR HARRY FLORIDA

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Howling winds brought by Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) on Thursday blew off school rooftops and damaged homes and government buildings while heavy rains it dumped triggered floods that submerged farms and residential areas in Cagayan province, reports from local and disaster response officials on Friday showed.

Marce, which was out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon, also prompted the evacuation of more than 6,400 families (17,958 people) in 23 towns and one city in Cagayan province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

But PDRRMO chief Ruelie Rapsing, in an online briefing on Friday, said his office had yet to receive reports of any casualties related to the typhoon.

READ: Marce pounds Northern Luzon; Cagayan folk flee homes

Communities, he said, have heeded warnings from authorities, especially those in areas where typhoons usually pass and where residents have developed “a heightened awareness of potential calamity risks.”

“Emergency teams remain on standby, ready to respond as the situation unfolds,” he added

But Rapsing warned that floods, landslides, and storm surges could still pose a significant threat to areas battered by Marce.

Allacapan Mayor Harry Florida conducted an aerial inspection on Friday and saw the extent of widespread flooding that swamped rice and corn fields and communities in his town.

Florida has appealed for quick flood relief and called on the national government for assistance.

Extensive

The local government of Buguey also reported extensive damage to school buildings, with the roofs of Buguey North Central School and Licerio Antiporda National High School-Main ripped off by strong winds. Marce’s rains and winds also destroyed equipment in these schools.

Buguey Mayor Licerio Antiporda II said the town’s disaster response office had started assessing the extent of damage to determine the resources needed for repairs and recovery.

In Santa Teresita town, the local government said all 13 barangays were flooded, prompting authorities to stay on high alert for potential evacuations and emergency response

efforts.

Extensive damage from flooding and strong winds were also reported in the towns of Aparri, Pamplona, and Santa Ana, where Marce made its landfall on Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau on Friday said a low pressure area being monitored east of PAR would most likely become a tropical cyclone next week and affect the provinces of Cagayan Isabela, Quezon, Aurora as well as the Bicol region. These are the same areas hit last month by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (Trami) and Supertyphoon “Leon” (Kong-Rey), dumping above-average rainfall that caused massive flooding and property destruction. —WITH A REPORT FROM KATHLEEN DE VILLA