Typhoon Marce has severely damaged Cagayan province after making two landfalls.
According to Jasmine Gabriel Galban’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, residents in the province had to endure the downpour and strong winds brought by the tropical cyclone.
“Kinakabahan po kaming lahat, natatakot po (We were all very afraid),” Maria Talledo, a resident, said.
The ceiling of the newly built Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) collapsed in Sta. Ana town, site of the first landfall.
Marion Miranda, MDRRMO officer, said the fierce wind was too much for the structure to bear.
When morning came, the extent of the devastation became more visible.
Many homes lost roofs, the ceiling of a commercial center fell, roads were strewn with toppled trees and electric posts, a steel sheet hung on a post.
In Sanchez Mira town, where the typhoon made a second landfall, a portion of the concrete welcome arc caved in due to the winds. A church lost almost half of its roof and floods are everywhere.
In Sta. Teresita town, a rice field was turned into a river due to the high water level.
“Imbes na may maani, ngayon wala (We were supposed to harvest these crops, now they’re gone),” said farmer Christopher Domingo.
Houses were submerged in floodwater in Barangay Antiporda in the town of Buguey.
Several buildings appear like skeletons with missing roofs and walls at Buey North Central School. The same scene can be seen in schools in Allacapan town.
A gymnasium in Pamplona town was almost totally destroyed by the typhoon.
At least 13 towns in the province do not have electricity as of Friday. Repairs are ongoing on affected power and communication lines.
Over 13,000 families were evacuated at the height of Marce.
Relief distribution is ongoing in the affected towns. Local officials are also making the rounds to visit their constituents.
Marce, which is the 13th storm to enter the country this year, first made landfall in Santa Ana on Thursday afternoon. It later hit the land of Sanchez-Mira at night.
Aside from Cagayan province, the Ilocos Region was also affected by the typhoon. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Marce has already exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon.
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