Isabela Governor Rodito Albano urges residents to remain calm as the provincial government has been on red alert in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact

PAMPANGA, Philippines – Strong winds and heavy rains continued to batter parts of Aurora and Isabela provinces on Monday, November 11, forcing more than 3,500 families to flee their homes due to the onslaught Typhoon Nika (Toraji).

According to a report by the Isabela Provincial Office of Social Assistance and Development, at least 5,220 people from 1,783 families were evacuated from 16 towns in the province alone.

In Aurora, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 5,244 people, or about 1,834 families, are currently sheltering in designated evacuation sites across the province.

Food packages for the family have been prepared to be distributed in the northern part of the province, including the towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag.

Isabela Governor Rodito Albano asked residents to remain calm as the provincial government was on red alert in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact. But he also expressed concern about potential flooding in the affected areas.

“Hinihingi ko lang sa atin na magdasal tayo, huminahon tayo ng konti. ‘Wag naman Tayong mag-panic to have the province. Mag-prepare lang tayo. Naka preposition naman lahat ng gamit natin. Nandiyan made a saving action through his natin preparation. “Yung mga tukung diyan, naggi natin. Nandito kami lahat naka preposition na yung mga goods kung saka-sakaling mai baha,” Albano said.

(I only ask that we pray, stay calm and don’t panic immediately in our province. Let’s prepare. Everything is already pre-positioned. Our people are there, well trained in operations and rescue preparations. Let’s strengthen our roofs .We are here and all goods are prepositioned in case of flooding.)

He also said that many farmers were able to harvest their crops before the typhoon hit.

A liquor ban was imposed in Isabela in response to the typhoon.

The local government also implemented a “no boating, no fishing and no swimming” policy to ensure public safety during the storm’s impact.

Nika was moving across the Cordilleraafter landing in Aurora province earlier in the day and tracking through Isabela. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), it was near Lagawe, Ifugao, traveling west-northwest at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) as of 2 p.m. Monday.

The typhoon sustained winds of 130 km/h, with gusts strengthening to 215 km/h from 180 km/h. Nika may weaken into a severe tropical storm as it crosses mainland Luzon, although it is expected to continue to bring strong winds and heavy rains to the affected regions. – Rappler.com