Lives at risk as ‘Marce’ makes landfall over Santa Ana, Cagayan

State weather bureau PAGASA reported “life-threatening conditions” over northeastern Cagayan on Thursday afternoon as Typhoon ‘Marce’ (international name ‘Yinxing) made its landfall in the town of Santa Ana.

Forecasters warned of “typhoon-force winds, storm surge inundation, and torrential rainfall” in affected areas, including Babuyan Islands and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Apayao.

‘Marce’ was moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 240 km/h. It is expected over the coastal waters of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte by Friday dawn before moving to Laoag City.

PAGASA also stated in its 5:00 p.m. weather bulletin that ‘Marce’ may reach ‘super typhoon’ category, but it may still weaken within the day “due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon and the possible dry air intrusion from the prevailing northeasterly wind flow.”

As of this posting, the following tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) remain over the affected localities in Luzon:

·         TCWS No. 4 – The northern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-Lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Flora, Calanasan, Pudtol), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Vintar, Dumalneg, Adams, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Burgos)

·         TCWS No. 3 – Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Danglas, Lagayan, Lacub, San Juan, La Paz, Bangued), and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo)

·         TCWS No. 2 – The northern and central portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Cabatuan), the rest of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hungduan), the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan), the rest of Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, Santol)

·         TCWS No. 1 – The rest of La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan), and the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria)