Over 1,700 families in Isabela evacuated as typhoon rages

 

MANILA, Philippines — More than 1,700 families in Isabela province have been evacuated on Monday due to the onslaught of Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji).

As of 12 noon, the Isabela Public Information Office said in a Facebook post that 1,783 families or 5,220 individuals from the following have been evacuated:

• Alicia – 60 families, 182 individuals
• Aurora – 218 families, 615 individuals
• Benito Soliven – 78 families, 213 individuals
• Burgos – 58 families, 190 individuals
• Cabagan – 8 families, 33 individuals
• City of Iligan – 104 families, 348 individuals
• Delfin Albano – 54 families, 163 individuals
• Dinapigue – 212 families, 643 individuals
• Divilacan – 37 families, 130 individuals
• Echague – 24 families, 84 individuals
• Gamu – 17 families, 46 individuals
• Luna – 59 families, 186 individuals
• Maconacon – 279 families, 799 individuals
• Naguilian – 4 families, 10 individuals
• Palanan – 94 families, 286 individuals
• Quezon – 47 families, 144 individuals
• Ramon – 47 families, 144 individuals
• Roxas – 29 families, 89 individuals
• San Guillermo – 219 families, 712 individuals
• San Isidro – 88 families, 256 individuals
• San Mariano – 46 families, 124 individuals
• Santo Tomas – 3 families, 3 individuals

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its  11:00 a.m. bulletin, reported that Nika made a landfall in Dilasag, Aurora.

It was last located in the vicinity of San Agustin, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) is forecast to develop into a typhoon this week.

It will be named Ofel once it enters PAR, the state weather bureau said.