33 Isabela towns without power after Uwan onslaught

Thirty-three municipalities in Isabela are now suffering from power outages after then Super Typhoon Uwan’s powerful winds toppled several posts in the province.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, eight towns in Isabela are submerged in deep floods after Uwan dumped rains on parts of the country.

Some metal sheets, branches, and other debris were scattered along the road after strong winds tore through Santiago town.

The typhoon did not spare an ancestral home from damage, to the lament of its occupants.

Several houses were submerged in deep floods in Roxas town. A resident said they previously experienced floods, but not the kind of floods left by Uwan that almost submerged the roofs of their homes.

Rescuers conducted rescue operations to get residents, especially the elderly, to safety.

About 53,000 individuals have been evacuated, based on the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) data as of 10 a.m. Monday.

Rescuers reminded the public to follow the advice of authorities during preemptive evacuations.

The Isabela PDRRMO said eight municipalities are now under water while all overflow bridges are impassable in the province like in Cauayan City. 

Although there is an alternate road, authorities noted that it is a longer route to remote areas.

The Isabela PDRRMO said seven gates of Magat Dam have been opened, contributing to floods in certain parts of the province. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA Integrated News