'Worse than Rosing': 15,000 families affected, 5 dead in Catanduanes after 'Rolly' onslaught
MANILA, Philippines — The governor of Catanduanes on Monday said then Super Typhoon 'Rolly' dealt heavy damage to the province, describing its extent as worse than what was sustained from a similar super typhoon in more than two decades with over 15,000 families affected and five reported dead.
Rolly first made landfall in Bato, a municipality in the island province, at around 4:50 a.m. on November 1 shortly after intensifying into a super typhoon with peak winds of 225 kph and gusts of up to 280 kph.
At a video teleconference with national government officials, Gov. Joseph Cua said Rolly was stronger than 'Rosing' (international name Angela) in 1995 which had the wind speed recorded of 260 kph and left nearly a thousand dead throughout the Philippines.
He also reported that the initial number of casualties were a result of drowning while crossing rivers and being reached by floods, with storm surge reaching about 5 meters in height.
Power and signal lines too have been cut off, leaving the province with no means of communication as well as short in supply of drinking water.
"Before tumama yung bagyo, wala nang ilaw for security reasons siguro," Cua said. "Pero ngayon ang damage sa electric posts about 80% ng mga poste o facilities ng local cooperatives."
(Power was cut off for security reasons even before the storm hit us. But it had left about 80 percent of damage in electric posts as well as other facilities of local cooperatives.)
Cua, citing estimates, said Catanduanes' abacca sustained P400 million in damage, with other crops at about P200 million. He said that some P150 million per month goes into the province for the abacca it exports.
Damage to infrastructure, meanwhile, was put at around P700 million with roads, bridges and school buildings affected as well. Some 65% of houses built from light materials also took hit, with 15,000 currently in shelters.
Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the NDRRMC, told Catanduanes officials that a specific C-130 flight to the province will ferry food packs on Tuesday, as well as portable drinking water.
An emergency communications team was deployed earlier today to Catanduanes in a bid to restore power lines, as concerns flood over social media about the situation of the province hard hit by the super typhoon.
Rolly has so far left 16 people dead per latest figures from disaster officials, with over two million individuals in 12 regions affected.
While it has since weakened after its four landfalls, Rolly is considered as the world's strongest storm for 2020.
Follow this thread for updates on tropical cyclone Rolly (international name: Goni).
Australia provides an additional P28.52 million to support Filipino communities affected by tropical cyclone Rolly in the Bicol Region.
This will help the government provide food, repair damaged homes and support emergency medical teams in the region. Australia's latest commitment will directly assist 23,345 people, including 2,990 women and girls.
"This support is even more critical following Typhoon Ulysses that caused further hardship for the people in the Bicol Region. Australia stands with the Philippines in this time of need," Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson says.
President Rodrigo Duterte may place the regions of CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol under state of calamity because of the impact of typhoon "Rolly," Malacañang says.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has approved a recommendation to place the three Luzon regions under state of calamity to fast-track the recovery of the typhoon-ravaged areas.
"Most likely, but let us wait for the document that will come from the Office of the President," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing when asked if Duterte would adopt the recommendation of the council. — Alexis Romero
The provincial board has placed Camarines Sur under state of calamity following the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly.
In a resolution released Monday, the local government cited strong winds and torrential rains, as well as the extensive flooding and other damages brought about by the typhoon.
At 3 p.m., Tropical Storm Rolly was located 225 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.
The cyclone bears maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph. It is moving north northwestward at 15 kph.
Vice President Leni Robredo posts photos of the first signs of devastation brought about by Typhoon Rolly in Camarines Sur.
Robredo says she left Manila before dawn on Monday to visit the typhoon-hit province.
The vice president will also be visiting Albay and Catanduanes.
Left Manila before dawn today. Just arrived CamSur and these were the first signs of devastation we saw. Will be going around Albay and Catanduanes, as well.
Posted by Leni Gerona Robredo on Sunday, 1 November 2020
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