Typhoon Egay ravages Cagayan, displaces 16K residents

Typhoon Egay on Wednesday devastated areas in Cagayan province, displacing thousands of residents and leaving damage to farmlands and establishments.

In the municipality of Sta. Ana, clearing operations are ongoing as the strong winds and the heavy rainfall brought about by the typhoon uprooted trees, Jasmin Gabriel-Galban reported on “24 Oras."

The powerful winds likewise damaged a portion of a house in Buguey town and the roof of an old gasoline station in the municipality of Aparri.

In Sta. Teresita, the torrential rains caused flooding in a residential area and turned the rice fields into a river, damaging the farmers’ crops.

“Parati pong binabaha pag ano, tataas pa siguro. Kasi mga ilang oras palang ‘yan,” said Barangay Simbaluca chairperson Severino Tacas.

(It’s usual for the water level to rise. We’re expecting the flood level will worsen.)

Meanwhile,  power outages were experienced in parts of the province.

“Pinapatila pa namin ‘yung weather kasi medyo kwan pa eh, delikado naman 'yung mga lineman natin,” CAGELCO Operations and Maintenance Chief Herald Unciano.

(We’re waiting for the rains to stop for our linemen’s protection.)

According to the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the number of evacuees in the province reached 16,000.

The PDRRMO said it is currently monitoring the water level in the major river system in the province. Its personnel are continuously distributing relief packages to evacuees taking shelter at the evacuation centers.

Bacolod

Meanwhile, in Bacolod City, neck-deep waters forced residents to evacuate.

According to a report by Aileen Pedreso on"24 Oras," the floods from the rains due to the typhoon were aggravated by the high tide.

Local officials said the residents were caught by surprise by the sudden rise of floodwater

“Nanginginig ako sa pagkuha ng mga gamit. hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang uunahin. Wala nga akong dalang damit,” Margie Montaño, a resident, said.

Typhoon Egay is currently moving northwestward and is forecasted to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning.—Sundy Locus/Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News