NDRRMC: 180 families evacuated due to Florita

A total of 180 families or 543 individuals were preemptively evacuated in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.

In its 8 a.m. situational report, NDRRMC said 110 families or 391 persons were evacuated from CAR, while 70 families or 152 persons were from Cagayan Valley.

Classes were also canceled in 162 cities and municipalities — 77 from CAR, 58 from Ilocos Region, 21 from Cagayan Valley, and three each from Central Luzon and Bicol Region.

Work was also suspended in 60 cities and municipalities 58 of these were from the Ilocos Region, and two from Cagayan Valley.

The NDRRMC also recorded three rain-induced landslides in Ilocos Region and Bicol Region, and two flooding incidents in Ilocos Region alone.

Three roads in the Bicol Region, and one bridge in Cagayan Valley are also currently not passable.

At the public briefing, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said there are around 480,000 family food packs, as well as over P800 million stand-by funds ready to be distributed to local government units.

Timbal advised the public with leisure travels, especially in the mountain areas or areas affected by the severe tropical storm, to cancel their trips.

Timbal said that so far, they have not yet received reports of damage in the agricultural sector in Region 2.

Meanwhile, some domestic flights scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, were canceled, according to the Manila International Airport Authority.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3—where "storm-force winds" were prevailing or expected within 18 hours—was raised in the following areas on Tuesday morning due to Florita:

• southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is.);
• northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca); and
• eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan).

TCWS Nos. 2 and 1 were also hoisted in other areas in the country.

According to state weather bureau PAGASA, Florita will continue to move generally northwestward and is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of northern Isabela — coast of Palanan, Maconacon, or Divilacan — on Tuesday morning or in the vicinity of Cagayan — coast of Gattaran, Baggao, or Peñablanca — before noon or by early afternoon. — with Jamil Santos/KG/RSJ, GMA News