Big waves reaching nearly two meters slammed the shores of Barangay 33-A La Paz in Laoag City morning on Monday, prompting the Coast Guard to bar fishermen and beachgoers from going out to sea.

Authorities warned of possible life-threatening storm surges in several parts of Northern Luzon, including Ilocos Norte, as Super Typhoon #NandoPH continued to affect the region.

Resident Romnick Asuncion said locals are used to storms, but they remain cautious.

“May bigla kasing pagtaas ng tubig kaya iniangat ko yung balsa ko… Binabantayan din namin yung paligid dito kaya dinadaanan namin minsan,” he said.

The Ilocos Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said 63 families, or more than 170 individuals, had already been evacuated from Pagudpud, Bacarra, and San Nicolas as of 8 a.m. Officials expect the number to rise in the coming hours.

The Provincial Engineering Office also placed its heavy equipment on standby in case of emergencies.

“As of Sunday pa lang ma'am naka-activate na yung disaster natin dito. Bale as of today naka-prepare na lahat ng equipment natin… Ayos naman ma'am andito naman lahat ng manpower natin, operators natin, standby lahat,” Engr. Elmer Macalma II, motorpool overseer, said.

Ilocos Norte DRRMO likewise assured readiness.

“Sa ngayon, kung makikita niyo may mangilan-ngilang personnel na lang dito… pero kung kailangan ng augmentation ng LGUs, nagpapa-deploy kami roon,” Randy Nicolas, LDRRMO III, said.

Authorities continue to monitor coastal communities closely as strong waves threaten to reach homes.