Residents of provinces in Ompong's path stagger from its impact

Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday morning, leaving a swathe of destruction in northern Luzon area.

According to reports on GMA News' "Balitanghali" on Sunday, residents in  several provinces in northern Luzon are still staggering from the destruction the typhoon has left.

At least one casualty was reported in Ilocos Sur, where the agriculture sector was severely hit.

Local government officials are consolidating reports on the damage left by the typhoon.

Likewise, Batanes province  has reported that it agriculture sector has been heavily impacted by typhoon. 

"Agriculture siguro ang tatamaan ng hangin. 'Yung mga kambing, madalas na 'yan ang mga natatamaan 'pag ka ganitong malakas ang hangin or malakas ang ulan," Cesar Esdicul of the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

Some 300 tourists in the area have also been stranded as flights to and from Batanes are suspended.

Meanwhile, in Zambales, some 3,000 of the 5,000 evacuees have started returning to their homes as the rains and the floods have subsided.

The Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Sta. Cruz town has advised residents to take necessary precautions as they leave the evacuation centers. 

"Umulan lang ng mga dalawa o tatlong oras at nasabayan ng high tide, siguradong marami na naman ang problema sa baha," said Vergel Misola of the Sta. Cruz MDRRMO.

In Sta. Ana in Cagayan, damage on residences and establishments was heavy.

In Pangasinan province, some 1,700 residents were evacuated, and San Fabian town was affected the most.

More than 11 houses were destroyed, as the area was close to several rivers. It also served as a catch basin of runoff water from Baguio City.

According to Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, a total of 29 people were reported dead as of Sunday afternoon after Ompong barreled through northern Luzon before exiting the PAR. —Jon Victor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News