Quiel destroys seawall, fishermen’s boats in Occidental Mindoro

Typhoon Quiel destroyed not only the houses but also the livelihood of a coastal community in Occidental Mindoro before it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday.

Saleema Refran's report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Monday showed a footage of some fishermen in Paluan town trying to salvage their capsized boats from the roaring waters.

The strong waves also caused the seawall to collapse. Around 50 houses near the shore were damaged.

Over 600 residents from 10 barangays in town have evacuated.

In a separate interview on Balitanghali, Mario Mulingbayan of the Occidental Mindoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said that the effects of typhoon Quiel in the province was compounded by a high tide.

"Nagkasabay-sabay lang po 'yung high tide at 'yung mata ng bagyo ay nakaharap ang aming lalawigan," Mulingbayan said.

He added that the local government warned the residents but the locals did not expect that the waves would be that rough.

Local authorities are already laying out plans on assisting the affected residents in the restoration of their houses and boats, according to Mulingbayan.

Meanwhile, the flood in Cagayan province have also caused some houses to collapse. Some motorists had been stranded.

In Apayao, landslides triggered by Quiel had rendered some roads impassable.

On the other hand, according to a report by GMA News stringer Vill Visaya, some residents of Cauayan, Isabela are using boats for transportation as Alicaocao Bridge remains submerged in flood.

Typhoon Quiel exited the PAR on Saturday but over 900 families are still taking refuge in evacuation centers in the regions of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera on Monday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News