Powerful storm surges at height of Uwan wrath cause fear among residents

The massive and destructive storm surges brought by Typhoon Uwan caused fear and panic among some residents of coastal areas in various parts of Luzon.

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the high storm surges nearly engulfed some houses along the coastline.

In Dinapigue, Isabela, residents screamed out of fear as the waves almost reached them even if they were already on higher ground.

In Dipaculao, Aurora, two senior citizens were almost swept away by the powerful waves but neighbors immediately came to their aid and pulled them to safety.

The uploader of the video said the two elderly persons tried to go back to their houses to retrieve their belongings. 

Three families in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija had to resort to seeking temporary shelter in a mausoleum as the evacuation center in their community was already full. 

“Yung kapatid ko, siya ang caretaker dito, dito na kami lumikas,” said Nida Caralte, whose home was flooded. 

(My sibling is the caretaker of this mausoleum, so we are seeking shelter here.)

Some rice fields in Nueva Ecija were submerged in muddy floods that resembled the color of chocolate.

On the other hand, residents in Calumpit, Bulacan had to use boats in dealing with the floods made worse by the high tide.

“Lahat kami nandoon sa second floor. Eh sa sobrang lakas ng hangin kagabi, nakakatakot,” said Oscar Sambile. 

(We are all here on the second floor. The wind was so strong last night, it was scary.)

In Ilagan City, Isabela, residents used empty plastic water gallons as floaters in navigating the deep floods. Some residents also placed their belongings on the roofs of their houses for safekeeping.

Meanwhile, the town of Tuao, Cagayan resembled a sea due to the massive floods that submerged it.

Aside from storm surges and floods, Typhoon Uwan also caused landslides in some areas. 

Twin boys aged 5 were killed in a landslide in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

Police said the family was sleeping when the landslide happened. One of the boys’ parents and another sibling were wounded in the landslide. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News