Supertyphoon Lawin leaves trail of destruction in Luzon

Several areas in Luzon are still reeling from the effects of Supertyphoon Lawin that caused deadly landslides, destroyed houses and crops, and damaged over 40 roads and bridges. 

Lawin was a "Category 5" typhoon, the highest level.  Tropical Cyclone Signal Warning Number 5 was declared in Cagayan, Isabela, and Kalinga.

A lower typhoon signal was raised in the areas affected by the deadly landslides: Benguet (Signal Number 3) and Ifugao (Signal Number 4).

In Cagayan, where three people died at the height of the typhoon, GMA News TV's Jun Veneracion reported that at least 25,000 residents were evacuated. 

About 500 houses were severely damaged while 5,000 others were slightly damaged during the storm in Cagayan, which was placed under a State of Calamity.

Agriculture in the province took a huge hit as damage to corn and rice fields reached P6.2 billion.

Electricity and clean water were also reported to be in short supply in the province, with some going as far as Tuguegarao City to buy water and generator sets.

Metropolitan Tuguegarao Water District explained that the distribution of water in the area was interrupted when generator sets were disconnected from water pumps as the typhoon raged.

Fallen trees, damaged houses

In Isabela, which was also placed under Signal Number 5, GMA News TV's Katrina Son reported that roads were blocked by fallen trees within minutes after Lawin entered the province.

The province had about 2,000 evacuees whose homes were either hit by debris, or were flooded, or had their roofs blown off by heavy winds.

About 10,000 families were affected in the province where 48 barangays continue to have no access to electricity.

Isabela Governor Faustino Dy said their province faces a double burden of recovering from both Super Typhoon Lawin and Typhoon Karen.

"Dulot ng Bagyong Karen, 'di pa tayo nakakaangat dun, ito na naman yung panibagong problema nating magdudulot ng pagbaha," he said.

Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council officer Edmond Guzman added, "Isa sa pinaka-malakas na experience ng probinsya ng Isabela itong Typhoon Lawin."

Mga magsasaka, abalang-abala sa pagpapatuyo ng palay at mais sa gilid ng kalsada sa iba't ibang bayan sa Isabela. | via @_jamesJA pic.twitter.com/3HkeDgyero

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 21, 2016

Severe flooding

In Bataan, GMA News TV's Dano Tingcungco reported that five barangays in Orani and 12 barangays in Hermosa experienced severe flooding.

Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton said it was the first time that their town experienced flooding of that scale.

"Medyo first time ito na mas mataas yung tubig, first time na sa bayan, tumaas talaga yung tubig at pinasok yung mga bahay," he said.

Authorities are preparing to investigate possible illegal logging in the affected areas after it was reported that lumber had been washed down in nearby mountainsides and blocked bridges.

Strawberry, flower farms

In Benguet, GMA News TV's Victoria Tulad reported major flooding in strawberry and flower farms in Atok town.

Strong winds knocked over electric posts and caused power outages in about 70 percent of the province.

Landslides claimed the lives of six people in La Trinidad and also caused about half a billion pesos worth of damage to infrastructure in the province.

Landslides in Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Kabayan, Mantayan, and Kibungan also rendered the Benguet-Viscaya Road impassable. — Rie Takumi, Erwin Colcol/VVP, GMA News