More than 700 residents living on the shoreline take refuge on Alcala Gymnasium after pre emptive evacuation due to Supertyphoon Lawin in Alcala town, Cagayan. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
At least eight people have been reported dead as Supertyphoon “Lawin” slammed into Northern Luzon with its powerful winds and heavy rains.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) director Alan Tabell said that they have received reports of eight fatalities—one in Ilocos region, 3 in Cagayan region and four in Cordillera Administrative Region.
“Eto ay kasalukuyang vina-validate ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council kung directly related sa bagyo (The reports are being validated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council if these are directly related to the supertyphoon),” he said in a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
Two persons have been reported missing in Cagayan region.
READ: NDRRMC: At least 7 reported dead from ‘Lawin’
As of Thursday afternoon, Typhoon Lawin was almost out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). After its landfall in Penablanca, Cagayan as a supertyphoon on Wednesday night, Lawin started to weaken after hitting the mountains of Sierra Madre and Cordilleras.
Tabell noted that it was a positive development that there were no reports of fishermen missing so far.
“Magandang senyales na walang nababalitaan na nawawalang fishermen. Kung sakali first time natutuwa kami sa NDRRMC lalo na ang DILG dahil nakikita natin na nag iimprove na yung kamalayan ng kababayan at yung koordinasyon sa local government units. Sana matuloy na gawin sa mga susunod na panahon,” he said.
(It is a positive development that there were no reports of fishermen missing. If ever, it would be the first time that the NDRRMC, especially the DILG, is please by the improvements in the consciousness of our fellow countrymen and the coordination of local government units. I hope this continues in the future.)
Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Wilma Cabrera said that there were 18,277 families consisting of 80,277 individuals evacuated in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Cordillera, Central Luzon and Bicol.
READ: NDRRMC: 60,000 families affected by Typhoon ‘Lawin’
“May 209 evacuation centers na ina-assist ng regional offices, inaassess kung pwede na bumalik sa mga bahay (There are 209 evacuation centers being assisted by the regional offices which assess if the evacuees could return home),” he said.
Despite Lawin’s exit, Tabell reminded the residents in low-lying areas not to be too complacent as landslides are still possible.
“Kahit lumabas na ng PAR ang mga kabundukuan ng Cagayan, Cordilleras at Ilocos, marami pang tubig na dala ng malakas na ulan yung mga tubig dadaloy pababa. Kung kayo ay nasa river systems na dinadaanan nito, wag makumpyansa,” he said.
(Despite Lawin’s exit, the mountains of Cagayan, Cordilleras at Ilocos contain much water brought about by the heavy rains which would flow down. If you are near river systems where it runs through, don’t be too complacent.) RAM
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