At least 180 families from various high-risk areas in Ilocos Norte province were evacuated and have been given relief items to ensure their safety against the threats posed by Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing).
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Thursday, at least 178 families composed of 464 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated from high risks areas in the towns of Pagudpud, San Nicolas, Bangui, Bacarra, and the city of Batac.
Also, at least two families, or 19 individuals from Barangay Gayamat and Mangitayag in Piddig town, Ilocos Norte were forced to evacuate to the Gayamat Barangay Hall and Tonoton Elementary School.
Relatively, all provincial government-owned and managed tourism properties, including Kapurpurawan Rocks Formation, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, and Malacañang of the North, will be temporarily closed until further notice to ensure the safety of visitors and the general public.
The public is also advised to avoid beaches, bodies of water, and other high-risk areas and postpone travel plans to the province until the weather improves.
For emergencies, the public is advised to contact the Provincial Incident Response Management at 911, +63 918 957 6979, or +63 963 859 9555.
For transportation concerns, the public may also call the Metro Ilocos Norte Council at +63 915 586 9422 or +63 960 897 7159.
Road closures
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also announced the temporary closure of the national highway in Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte since 7 p.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday due to landslide as Marce continues to bring rains and strong winds in northern Luzon.
“The heavy rainfall and strong winds brought about by ‘Marce’ triggered new landslides in the area,” said Jocelyn Oamar, DPWH-Region I (Ilocos Region) maintenance management section chief and information officer designate. She said in a statement that clearing operations will resume if deemed safe to operate.
The Manila North Road, Kilometer 578 + 800 in Sitio Banquero, Barangay Pancian has been on and off to road closure due to frequent landslides caused by the bad weather.
Also, DPWH Second District Engineering Office reported that the Apayao (Calanasan)-Ilocos Norte road is temporary closed due to soil collapse in Barangay Eva, Calanasan, Apayao.
Clearing operation will resume as soon as weather permits, it added.
The Ilocos Norte government also advised passengers of Cebu Pacific flights 5J404 and 5J405, as well as Philippine Airlines flights PR2198 and PR2199, scheduled on Friday, that these flights have been cancelled due to the bad weather. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: Philippine News Agency)