8 hurt, 1 missing due to Julian —NDRRMC

Eight people were reported injured while one was missing after Typhoon Julian brought heavy rains and strong winds in the northern part of Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

In its situational report as of 8 a.m., the NDRRMC said despite having no casualties, one person from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was confirmed to be missing. Meanwhile, all of the eight injured were from Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).

The NDRRMC said 43,093 families or 149,293 persons from Regions 1, 2 and CAR were affected by the tropical cyclone, of which 646 families or 2,176 persons were staying inside 58 evacuation centers and 921 families or 3,255 persons were staying in other places.

Further, six areas in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) and 11 areas in Region 2 experienced flooding, three of which in the former have since subsided.

Destructive or strong winds hit one area in Region 1, while a rain-induced landslide was recorded in Region 2. A drowning incident was reported in CAR.

A total of 92 road sections were also affected in the three regions.

Power was affected in 19 cities and municipalities in Regions 1 and 2, of which 13 (eight in Region 1, five in Region 2) had since been restored.

Also in Region 2, water was interrupted in two cities and municipalities, while communication lines were affected in seven.

Six seaports in CALABARZON and one in Region 1 either became non-operational or had their trips cancelled. Thus, 154 passengers, 15 rolling cargoes, nine vessels and three motorbancas were stranded.

A total of 88 damaged houses were reported in Regions 1 and 2 and CAR.

Classes were suspended in 121 cities/municipalities in Region 1; 93 in Region 2; 24 in Region 3; five in CALABARZON; and 77 in CAR. Work was also suspended in 55 cities or municipalities in Region 1; 15 in Region 2; and 39 in CAR.

A state of calamity was declared in 23 cities/municipalities in Region 1.

A total of P11,326,874.99 worth of assistance has been provided so far to 11,141 families out of 17,658 families requiring assistance in Regions 1, 2 and CAR. In Region 1, food and non-food items worth a total of P2,093,929.41 were provided.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said four areas in Luzon were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1. as Typhoon Julian, which is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), maintained its strength while moving north northeastward slowly.

Julian is expected to make landfall on the southwestern coast of Taiwan on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. — KBK/VDV, GMA Integrated News