Marce wrecks houses, gov't offices, infra in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte

Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing) damaged several houses, government offices, and infrastructure in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, according to reports on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita on Friday.

In Cagayan, roofs were blown off and walls were knocked down amid strong winds and heavy rains brought by the typhoon in Sta. Ana town, GMA Regional TV's Jasmin Gabriel-Galban reported.

"Biglang lumakas 'yung hangin at saka pagbuhos ng ulan po. Tapos lumipad na 'yung bubong. Lumikas na po kami dito. Ang problema laging ano na naman, panibagong paggawa. Wala na. Babalik na naman, back to zero na naman," resident Maria Talledo said.

(The wind and rainfall suddenly became stronger. Then the roofs were blown away. We evacuated. The problem is the repairs and getting back on our feet. We're back to zero again.)

Another affected resident, Odezza Mendoza, said she was on the verge of tears as Marce pounded their home.

"Sa lakas po ng hangin kaya 'yun po, nawala. Mangiyak-ngiyak nga po ako kanina kasi itong mga bata po ang iniisip ko," Mendoza said.

(The winds were very strong. I was on the verge of tears earlier because I kept thinking about the children.)

Even the headquarters of Sta. Ana government's Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) was damaged after its ceiling collapsed. The ceiling in the lobby of Sta. Ana Municipal Hall was also damaged.

"Bagong-bago pa lang itong building natin. Hindi natin akalain na sa sobrang lakas ng bagyo ay 'yung hangin po at saka yung ulan talaga ng matindi po yung tama niya sa amin dito," MDRRMO officer Marion Miranda said.

(Our building is brand new. We couldn't imagine that it would suffer much damage. The winds and rains were really powerful.)

"Nagdadasal na lang ako na sana walang buhay na madamay," he added.

(I pray that no life was lost because of the typhoon.)

The door and ceiling of a police station in Sta. Ana collapsed due to the strong winds. The glass door in the Gonzaga municipal hall also shattered.

In Sanchez Mira, a man was trying to tie up the roof of their house but the strong winds blew it off, forcing his family to leave and stay at their neighbor's home.

Water almost reached a bridge in Calamaniugan while strong waves pounded Calayan.

Typhoon assault on Ilocos

Meanwhile in Ilocos Norte, the window of a house in Pagudpud shattered and its frame almost broke due to the strong winds.

In Sarrat town, strong winds and heavy rains were also experienced.

Many residents in Laoag City were unable to sleep due to the creaking sound of their roofs.

A total of 20,674 people or 7,233 families were affected by Marce in Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its 8 a.m. report.

Of the affected population, 11,476 people or 3,958 families were staying in evacuation centers while 2,913 people or 960 families were taking shelter in other places.

Classes in 256 areas and work schedules in 94 areas were suspended due to Marce. — VDV, GMA Integrated News