CAGAYAN, Philippines – At least 3 towns in Cagayan - Benito Soliven, Claveria, Gonzaga - evacuated before Severe Tropical Storm Carina made landfall early Sunday afternoon, July 31, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councill (NDRRMC).
Heavy rains and strong winds were felt in Gonzaga town since early Sunday morning. Local disaster officials said the water level in Cagayan River continued to rise in the past hours, threatening low-lying areas, including Tuguegarao, Alcala, and Amulung.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier advised local government units of vulnerable towns in Northern Luzon to conduct preemptive evacuation by Sunday morning, July 31, before the storm makes landfall. (READ: #CarinaPH: Areas in Northern Luzon, Visayas prone to floods, landslides)
On Sunday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated the NDRRMC's response cluster to "ensure that assistace will immediately be mobilized to affected areas."
Missing
Meanwhile, Solomon Roc, 41-year old, was reported missing since 4 pm on Saturday, July 30. He was last seen by his neighbors swimming in Bayo River in Iguig, Cagayan.
Roc's sister, Edlyn Narag, said their neighbors saw her brother's clothes, slippers, and cellphone near the river.
The provincial disaster agency said they already deployed search and rescue teams to locate Roc even as they verify if the incident was caused by Tropical Storm Carina.
#WalangPasok
As another preemptive action, power in Cagayan was also cut off at 8 am, authorities said.
On Monday, August 1, classes in all levels in the towns of Sta Ana, Gonzaga, Sta Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Lal-lo, Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Claveria, Sta Paxedes, Calayan, Lasam, Gattaran, and Rizal in the Northern Cagayan have already been suspended.–
Residents can report emergency situations using the following hotlines:
09262532067
09363462355
09151109305
09771275507
09269560219
09163086527
The 1991 Local Government Code and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandate local government units to be at the frontline of emergency measures during disasters. – Rappler.com