3 towns isolated after Uwan destroys Aurora's main highway

Three towns of Aurora were cut off from the rest of the province after Super Typhoon Uwan’s storm surge damaged the province’s main highway.

According to Ian Cruz’s Monday report on 24 Oras, residents of Dipaculao town found their homes destroyed after the storm surge struck areas near the coastline.

“Nalungkot po ako dahil nasira bahay namin. Di namin alam kung paano nanaman kami mag-uumpisa. Napakahirap naman po ng buhay,” said Michelle Mamugay, a resident.

(I’m sad because our house was destroyed. We don’t know how to start all over again. Life is hard.)

Residents had already evacuated when the storm destroyed houses, uprooted trees, and carried huge rocks onto the road.

Motorists were also stranded after a stretch of a coastal road in Barangay Gupa in Dipaculao crumbled when large waves engulfed the area on Sunday.

The isolated municipalities include Dinalungan, where Uwan made landfall; Casiguran; and Dilasag.

Residents of Dipaculao town had to walk on crushed asphalt and concrete from the damaged road to cross over to the other side.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reportedly deployed heavy equipment to repair the highway.

Establishments in Baler town were also not spared, as roofs and walls of several cottages were torn by strong winds and heavy rains.

The seawall of the Aurora Police Provincial Office collapsed after it bore the brunt of the storm surge whipped up by Uwan.

Aurora Governor Isidro Galban said efforts are underway to promptly repair the damaged national road.

According to Galban, no casualties have been reported so far, as residents followed the evacuation plan.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/MCG, GMA Integrated News