Around 15K evacuated in Davao Oriental amid ‘Vinta’ – official

DAVAO CITY – Authorities in Southern Mindanao said they have not monitored any major incident yet after severe tropical storm “Vinta” made landfall around early Friday morning.

In Davao Oriental, Lt. Col. Jake Obligado, commander of the 67th Infantry Battalion, said strong wind and rains were experienced in the province as Vinta made landfall in Cateel town.

“No major damage noted and no casualties reported. The situation is almost normal now,” Obligado said in a text message.

According to Obligado, evacuated residents of about 15,000 had been provided assistance as of 7 a.m.

Davao del Norte, where hundreds of families had also been evacuated as early as Thursday, remained under signal No. 2, and all sea voyages there had been canceled.  /kga

READ: ‘Vinta’ maintains strength, speed; storm signals up in Visayas, Mindanao