Typhoon Marce, internationally known as Yinxing, wreaked havoc on thousands of households in Northern Cagayan, with many still recovering from the aftermath of two previous strong typhoons.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 2 reported that 10,847 individuals, or 3,762 families, underwent precautionary evacuation based on information provided by local government units (LGUs).
Governor Manuel N. Mamba stated that every effort had been made to ensure everyone’s safety from the threat posed by the typhoon and that all rescues in the province were preceded by preventive evacuations.
He added that the team is actively monitoring the area of responsibility due to the effects of Typhoon Marce, and are taking necessary precautions to protect residents and mitigate the storm’s impact by continuously assessing the situation – including monitoring weather and flood levels, and preparing to act swiftly for emergencies.
The province experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds brought by Typhoon Marce even before it made landfall on Thursday.
The Task Force Lingkod Cagayan-Quick Response Team, along with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO-Gonzaga), conducted an emergency rescue operation in Barangay Tapel, where around fifty individuals were evacuated.
Some overflow bridges in Peñablanca and Baggao can no longer be traversed due to rising water levels in the river; one bridge in Sto Niño is only open to light vehicles.
Landslides are currently occurring in the town of Rizal, Cagayan, on the road between Biuag and Malana Eco-Park as a result of Typhoon Marce’s persistent rain.
Since Thursday, power outages have affected the towns of Lallo, Allacapan, Pamplona, Calayan, and Ballesteros.
In the Nagtupacan neighborhood of Pamplona, Cagayan, the river’s water level quickly increased, reaching several homes and buildings near the banks. The majority of Cagayan continued to receive rain when Typhoon Marce made landfall in Sanchez Mira.
In Isabela, the Dimalao Bridge in Dinapigue Isabela is no longer passable. The Cabagan-Sto. Tomas Bridge and Sta. Maria-Cabagan Bridge at Turod Banquero Bridge in Reina Mercedes Isabela are also affected.
Typhoons of this magnitude have only struck Cagayanos once before—during Ompong (2018) and Lawin (2016).
Given that Ompong and Lawin made landfall over Baggao and Peñablanca respectively, this is likely one of the worst storms for Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, Aparri, Abulug, Ballesteros, Sanchez Mira, and Claveria.
Monitoring by LGUs regarding preemptive and forced evacuations of affected residents continues.
