80 Camarines Norte barangays isolated after Typhoon Uwan

Several barangays in Camarines Norte were heavily battered by the powerful winds and rains from Typhoon Uwan, destroying homes and downing power lines that also affected the power supply in the province.

In Darlene Cay’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, Leonora Tumala emotionally shared her frustration after their homes in Daet were crushed by a tree that was uprooted by the strong winds. 

“Siyempre malungkot, dalawang bahay ang nawala… Okay na rin buhay kaming mag-anak,” Tumala tearfully said.

(Of course, we are really sad because we lost two homes… It’s okay, at least we are all alive.)

Tumala and her family were staying at an evacuation center when the accident happened. They returned to their destroyed homes to check if they can still salvage some items that they could still use.

“Humihingi po ako ng tulong sa inyo para po magawa ng maliit man lang na kubo, para may matuluyan ang aking dalawang anak,” she said.

(I’m asking for your help so we can build a small hut for my two children.)

Others braved the strong winds from Uwan just to repair the roofs of their houses.

Jun Lladoc, for his part, collected parts of the roof from the auto repair shop that he works for.

“Hindi rin naman basta-basta makapag-operate, kasi wala pa naman kuryente eh,” he said.

(We cannot still operate because we don’t have electricity yet.)

The powerful winds from Uwan knocked down the electric posts in Daet town – causing not just a power outage but blocked practically half of the road. There is no power supply in the entire province.

In Mercedes town, residents of Purok 1-A in Barangay 7 worked together in lifting a house that was tilted to one side by the strong winds.

However, the situation in neighboring Purok 1-B was worse as the powerful storm surge and winds downed and washed out almost all of the homes by the coast.

Arnel Dela Pacion was wounded after his home was washed away by the waves. He salvaged wood from what remained of his house which he could later use.

“Walang magagawa at malakas yung bagyo. Siyempre kabado din at iniisip mo ang tinitirhan mo,” he said.

(I cannot do anything because the typhoon was so strong. But I was also worried because I kept thinking about my house.)

A seawall could have mitigated the impact of the destructive storm surges, but the seawall is still being constructed and unfinished when Uwan hit.

Unfortunately, the construction materials were swept away by the storm surge and out into the sea. 

“Masakit talaga po. Itong, Nakita mo ang mga basura. Sino ang kailangan, paano kami?... Nasaan ang mga tulong?” said resident Ronaldo Butial.

(It pains us so much. You can see the trash around. How about us now? Where is the help?)

The report said the Department of Public Works and Highways is already investigating the construction of the seawall.

Clearing operations are already ongoing in Camarines Norte. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News