“Nika” strong winds, rains lashing at Northeastern Luzon provinces

BAGUIO CITY (November 11, 2024) -- Typhoon “Nika” started lashing at Northeastern Luzon, particularly Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino since last night prompting thousands of families fleeing their homes.

At least 708 families (2,177 individuals) were affected, said the social welfare department in Region 2, particularly 58 barangays from Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. 

Initial reports by DSWD-Region 2 showed that at least 635 families (1,949 individuals) took temporary refuge in 58 evacuation centers in the whole Cagayan Valley region: 17 families (37 persons in 2 evacuation centers in Cagayan province; 478 families (1,492 persons) in 37 evacuation centers in Isabela province; 25 families (79 persons) in 4 evacuation centers in Nueva Vizcaya; and 115 families (341 persons) in 15 evacuation centers in Quirino.

According also to the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management reports, at least 29 families (88 persons) sought temporary shelter with their relatives and friends in the whole Cagayan Valley region as of Monday morning (15 families or 46 persons in Isabela and 14 families or 42 persons in Quirino).

Purok 3, barangay Mabini, Santiago City in Isabela villager Jill A. Brown said her family fled and sought refuge with their neighbor Monday morning after strong winds took away some of their house's roofing.

"Government aid"

The social welfare department’s Cagayan Valley regional office said at least 8,995 additional family food packs had already reached Batanes on Sunday via the BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard and C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. These were for the typhoon victims of the typhoon Marce that disastrously hit the northernmost province last week and part of preparations on possible devastation response to typhoon Nika until Friday.

DSWD-Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao further added that 10,000 family food packs are now being loaded by DSWD-Region III in satellite warehouses in Baler, Aurora as additional prepositioned goods that maybe needed by typhoon Nika victims in the area. These, aside from 1,000 family food packs being readied to be sent to Dilasag, Aurora meant for prepositioning efforts of the department, she explained.