Over 800 families in Quezon evacuated due to Ulysses

Over 800 families in Real and Infanta, Quezon were evacuated ahead of the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

According to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, indigenous people from around 400 families living near a river at the foot of a mountain in Barangay Lubayat were preemptively evacuated by authorities.

“Ang buhay po namin ay ganito na lamang. Mahirap ang buhay namin,” one elderly woman said.

Still reeling from Typhoon Rolly’s destruction of their fields, the residents once again had to return to evacuation centers.

“‘Yung kakainin, wala. Kung wala pong magbigay ng [pagkain], ay wala rin. Magugutom,” a woman said.

Ricky Poblete, disaster management office chief of Real, said local authorities were prepared for Ulysses.

“Ready na po tayo kaya pati po mga food packs natin naka-ready naman, naka-preposition na rin. Talagang linggo linggo po e may dumadating na bagyo,” he said.

In Infanta, another 400 families were evacuated from vulnerable areas.

“Being at the lowest lying area, talaga pong ang bayan ng Infanta is very prone to flooding. ‘Yung flooding na sinasabi natin sa bayan ng Infanta, hindi siya basta tubig. Siya’y may kasamang putik galing sa upland area,” Mayor Filipina Grace America said.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 remained raised over Quezon and 18 other areas as of Wednesday evening.

Ulysses was forecast to make landfall in Polillo Islands between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News