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October 17, 2016

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Typhoon kills 2, displaces 15,000 in north Philippines

Source: AP | October 17, 2016, Monday | Print Edition

A powerful but fast-moving typhoon blew out of the northern Philippines yesterday after leaving at least two people dead and displacing more than 15,000, though the region was spared a major disaster due in part to the storm’s speed.

Typhoon Sarika blew into Aurora province early yesterday and exited around midday after barreling rapidly through heavily populated agricultural provinces, including landslide-prone mountainous regions, government forecasters said.

At 4pm, the storm was over the South China Sea, about 260 kilometers off the Philippine coast, moving northwest at 24 kilometers per hour. It had sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts of up to 200 kph, according to the Philippines’ weather agency.

Despite its strength, the typhoon did not linger long enough to wreak havoc in regions along its path and the weather started to improve in provinces that it had struck, including Aurora.

Still, the typhoon forced more than 15,700 villagers to flee their homes in five northern provinces and take refuge in 132 emergency shelters, according to disaster-response agencies. Strong winds and rain knocked down trees and electricity poles, causing power outages and floods.

“We have yet to receive the complete details, but I think the situation is manageable,” said Ricardo Jalad, who heads the Office of Civil Defense. “Roofs of some houses were ripped off, there were fallen trees. Those are the damages we received so far, so it’s is not that serious.”

Mayor Nelianto Bihasa of Baler, a popular surfing town in Aurora, said strong winds ripped tin roofs off many houses and knocked down trees and electricity posts, causing power outages and blocking access roads to some villages. Coastal villagers were warned early to move to safer areas, preventing widespread casualties, he said.

In the eastern province of Catanduanes, a man drowned after being swept by strong river currents and a farmer died after his head hit the ground amid fierce winds.

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