In a span of 10 days, Cagayan was devastated by three powerful typhoons, the latest of which – Tropical Depression “Obet” – forced more than 100 residents to evacuate and caused flooding in nearly a dozen areas.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday, Oct. 21, that 34 families composed of 162 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated in the municipalities of Pamplona, Santa Praxedes, and Aparri in Cagayan due to flooding.
These areas had already been submerged in floods due to Typhoon Maymay which pummeled Northern Luzon last Oct. 11 and Typhoon Neneng which hit last Oct. 15.
Ankle-deep to knee-deep floods were monitored in 11 residential areas and farmlands in Pamplona, Aparri, and Ballesteros.
In Brgy. Dodan, Aparri, 60 residents were brought to the Aparri Municipal Gymnasium after they were rescued by members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Cagayan.
In Brgy. Bacsay, Claveria, Cagayan, the Mapulapula Road was rendered impassable to motorists due to flooding.
The PCG also alerted its personnel in Ilocos Norte due to Typhoon Obet. The PCG Station Ilocos Norte rescued a family of four in Brgy. Lanao, Bangui, Ilocos Norte after the sudden rise of water in the Bolo River.
“Pahirapan ang pagtawid sa nasabing ilog dahil sa lakas ng agos kaya gumamit ng rappelling rope ang rescue team para madala ang pamilya na may apat na miyemnro sa ligtas na lugar (Crossing the river was a real challenge due to the strong current so the rescue team used a rappelling rope to bring the family of four to a safe area),” the PCG said.
Rescued were Daniel Castillo, 44; Necci Joy Balibago, 30; David Lord Castillo, 13; and Thommy Daniel Castillo, 10.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, Obet further accelerated towards the Luzon Strait with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).