Marce brings heavy rains in parts of Luzon

Typhoon Marce brought heavy rains in parts of Luzon as it got closer to Philippine landmass on Wednesday morning. 

A portion of Maharlika Highway in Lopez, Quezon was submerged in floods due to the continuous rains, according to a report on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

In Rizal, intermittent to heavy rains were experienced in a portion of Imelda Avenue in Cainta as well as in Taytay. 

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Isabela implemented a preemptive evacuation in four barangays. 

Some coastal areas including Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, and Dinapigue have been warned of huge waves of up to five meters. 

In Ilocos Norte, some farmers already took out their rice grains for sun drying ahead of the expected impact of Marce in the province. Farmers in Bacarra laid out sacks of rice under the sunlight to ensure that they have reserves in case Marce destroys their crops.

In Pasuquin town, farmers harvest their crops early. 

Meanwhile in Calayan, authorities started preparing for Marce while fishers took their boats to high and safe areas to avoid damage from strong waves. 

Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said preemptive and forced evacuations are being conducted to save their residents from the impact of Marce. 

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over  the eastern portion of Babuyan islands (Camiguin Is., Babuyan Is.,) and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey).

Signal No. 1, meanwhile, is raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• The rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• The northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod)
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

Marce was last spotted 345 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

The typhoon was moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News