Typhoon Lawin’s strong winds, heavy rains batter Northern Luzon

Heavy rains with strong winds poured over parts of Northern Luzon overnight after Typhoon Lawin made landfall before midnight Wednesday, knocking down power, uprooting trees, and forcing residents to evacuate.

In Isabela where Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 5 was raised, the heavy rains and strong winds which started past 7 p.m. Wednesday flattened trees and plants, blocking roads, GMA News' Katrina Son reported on Unang Balita.

Malakas na ulan at malakas na hangin ang nararanasan ngayon dito sa Isabela. pic.twitter.com/Q4D5WfB1A7

— Katrina Son (@iamKatrinaSon) October 19, 2016

The strong winds brought by Lawin caused power and communication lines to fall, resulting in a brownout.

In an Unang Balita interview on Thursday, Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy said the deep flooding isolated some of the towns in the province.

“Ang amin pong dilemma, two or three days after ng bagyo, kasunod po nito 'yung patuloy na pagbaha. Lumalaki ‘yung tubig sa ilog, lalo na ‘yung Cagayan River,” Dy said.

Around 6,000 residents were evacuated to higher ground. But Dy said that because of the strong winds, he felt that even the evacuation centers would be blown away.

Batanes

Meanwhile, strong winds and heavy rains started to ravage Basco, Batanes between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Thursday, GMA News’ Joseph Morong reported.

Batanes was placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 during this time.

Several families were also evacuated by the Municipal Disaster Office.

With the expected effects of Lawin in the province, Batanes Gov. Malou Cayco has suspended the classes in all level in the province.

Baguio City

In Baguio City, meanwhile, around 1,000 residents were evacuated when heavy rain started to fall around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, GMA News' Victoria Tulad reported on Unang Balita.

During this time, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 was raised over Benguet.

Strong winds and heavy rain in Baguio City for almost 12 hours now. @gmanews #LawinPH pic.twitter.com/2E4fp5ZwRb

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) October 19, 2016

Almost 90 percent of Baguio City lost power, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Almost 90% of Baguio City has no power, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. #LawinPH @gmanews

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) October 19, 2016

Tulad also reported that some residents living in landslide-prone areas were brought to Aguinaldo Elementary School in Brgy. Gefa Lower Quirino Magsaysay.

Among them was an expectant mother due to give birth this November.

Meanwhile, many were stranded with only few vehicles on the road due to fog-induced zero visibility.

Kennon Road was also closed to traffic around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ilocos Norte

Residents in Ilocos Norte said they felt Typhoon Lawin's strongest effects from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Cesar Apolinario reported on Unang Balita.

For two hours, residents felt the very strong winds and heavy rain, which they said was nothing like they experienced before.

In the coastal areas, the winds were even stronger, the report said.

Some residents in the coastal areas were trapped and were not able to go to the evacuation center in time.

Authorities however said that from morning until afternoon on Wednesday, they urged residents to evacuate, but many remained where they were.

As of posting time, no reports of missing persons have been noted.

Many roads were blocked by fallen trees.

About one meter of the shoreline got eroded near residents' houses, causing concern among them.

Ilocos Sur

Meanwhile, in Ilocos Sur, YouScooper Larry Las Marias reported that a newly constructed covered court in Brgy. Del Pilar in Tagudin was destroyed by the typhoon's heavy rains and strong winds.

 —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News