(Updated)
A record-high amount of rainfall was dropped by super typhoon “Julian” in Basco, Batanes while at least two fatalities were recorded in the provinces of Cagayan and Ilocos Sur, weather and disaster officials said on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Julian dropped 727.8 millimeters of rainfall in Basco in the past 24 hours, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Loriedin Dela Cruz-Galicia said in a news update presented by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
“Napakadami po nito and so far highest po siya in history according sa ating initial report (This is too much and so far, this is the highest [record] in history according to our initial report),” Galicia said.
In Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, authorities said there were 481.6 mm of rainfall from Julian; 201.5 mm in Calayan, Cagayan; 120 mm in Baguio City; and 97.4 mm in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
A situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 22,645 families composed of 77,249 individuals were affected in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), and Cagayan Valley (Region 2).
There were 19 roads that were not passable to the public due to flooding and landslides in CAR and Region 1.
Thirty-eight houses were also partially damaged in CAR and Region 1.
The Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley (OCD-2) said it was verifying one fatality in Santa Ana, Cagayan.
OCD-2 officer-in-charge Ronald Villa said a motorcycle rider died of electrocution at the height of Julian when he was hit by an electric cable while on his way home.
Four individuals were also reported injured in Batanes.
“Sa kasalukuyan, ongoing ang validation ng LGUs kung ito ay related sa bagyo (At present, the local government units are conducting an ongoing validation if these were related to the super typhoon),” he said.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) head Rhon Arquelada said one fatality was also recorded in the province.
"We monitored one dead but we are verifying if this is typhoon-related or not," Arquelada said.
Huge agricultural and infrastructure losses are also expected in Region 2.
“Sa initial na ulat at assessment ng operations center, may posibilidad na malaki ang pinsala sa agrikultura. May mga nasirang tahanan at public buildings rin particularly sa lalawigan ng Batanes (Based on initial report and assessment of the operations center, there is a possibility that the agricultural damage will be big. There were damaged houses and public buildings as well particularly in the province of Batanes),” Villa said.
Three airplanes that are owned by private companies were also damaged at the Basco Airport. Pictures of the said damaged planes circulated on social media.
“Ang kabuuang nasirang eroplano base sa report ay tatlo na nagmula sa dalawang… ang may-ari ay dalawang airline companies, 'yung Flight Line at Error Speed. Ang mga eroplano po ay nakaanchor. Ang ginagawa po nila dito sa Basco Airport, ina-anchor at tinatali po nila ang mga eroplano doon sa heavy equipment. Ito ay ginagawa in the absence na wala po kasing hangar sa Basco Airport (The total number of damaged airplanes based on the report are three and they are owned by two airline companies, Flight Line and Error Speed. The airplanes were anchored. They were anchored at Basco Airport and tied to heavy equipment. This is being done in the absence of a hangar at Basco Airport),” Villa explained.
Julian left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning. It was moving westward slowly and may recurve and re-enter the PAR on Wednesday.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, it was located at 235 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes while packing maximum winds of 195 km per hour, and gustiness of up to 240 km per hour.