Remulla: Preemptive evacuation a ‘lesson’ from Storm Kristine

WATER EVERYWHERE. Floodwaters have inundated low-lying areas in Barangay Simbahan in Dinalungan, Aurora as Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) sweeps through north and central Luzon. —PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. JOEFRAN TALABAN

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla touted local government units’ (LGUs) preemptive evacuation in response to Typhoon Nika (International name: Toraji), saying they took “lessons” from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (International name: Trami).

In a phone interview aired on People’s Television Network on Wednesday morning, Remulla said LGUs evacuated around 8,000 families from geohazard zones identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as Nika crossed Northern Luzon.

“If they didn’t evacuate, perhaps, 100 would have died because many of the houses there were really destroyed,” he said in Filipino.

Nika left the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which was last updated on Tuesday evening, the typhoon caused no reported deaths or missing persons.

The NDRRMC, however, said it logged two injuries in Central Luzon due to Nika, but it has yet to validate the reports.

READ: Aid assured as Nika nears storm-weary north Luzon

Remulla said, “Ang pinakamaganda niyan, dahil sa lessons from Kristine, ay maaga tayong gumalaw at zero casualties dito sa Typhoon Nika.”

(The beauty of this is, because of the lessons from Kristine, we acted immediately and we have zero casualties from Typhoon Nika.)

Last Sunday, NDRRMC reported that the combined effects of Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon (International name: Kong-rey) left 160 reported deaths and 9.6 million individuals affected.

READ: 160 dead due to Kristine, Leon; over 9.6 million affected – NDRRMC

After its onslaught, Kristine left PAR on October 25, while Leon exited the country’s area of responsibility on November 1.

On the coming Typhoon Ofel (International name: Usagi) and a tropical storm with the international name Man-yi, Remulla said local governments would maintain the same procedure they implemented in response to Nika.

Ofel was last spotted 485 kilometers east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

READ: Typhoon Ofel keeps its strength over PH sea; Signal No. 2 up in 2 areas

Pagasa forecast Ofel to make landfall in the eastern portion of either Isabela or Aurora on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said Man-yi will enter PAR also on Thursday, after which it will be given the local name “Pepito.”

READ: New storm forecast to enter PAR Thursday to be named Pepito

State meteorologists added that Man-yi may make landfall in Northern or Central Luzon by Sunday.