One dead, thousands of homes damaged in Quezon in Karding aftermath

One died while almost a thousand individuals were evacuated after Typhoon Karding pummeled Quezon province over the weekend, according to Andrew Bernardo’s report on “24 Oras."

In Burdeos town, the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) confirmed the lone fatality was a senior citizen who died after a landslide nearly buried his house.

“Siya ay naiwan sa bahay, tapos nung kalakasan na ng bagyo, parang nagka-landslides sa area nila, natabunan ‘yung bahay,” Garner Jimenez, head of MDRRMO-Burdeos, Quezon, said.

(He was left in their house. During the height of the typhoon, heavy rains triggered a landslide which buried their house.)

Storm signal no. 5 was hoisted over Polilio Islands and the extreme northern portion of Quezon on Sunday due to Karding.

The typhoon first made landfall over the Polilio Group of Islands which left a trail of destruction on its coastal towns including Polilio and Patnanungan where two classrooms, one covered court, and over 2,000 houses were partially and totally destroyed.

“Kasi ang bahay dito sa bayan ng Patnanungan, halos lahat ay gawa sa light materials, kaya ganun kadaming houses ang nasira,” MDRRMO-Patnanungan, Quezon head Rhoniel Pamatian said.

(The houses in Patnanungan are made of light materials that’s why a lot of them were destroyed.)

Similar scenarios were observed in the towns of Panukulan, Jomalig and General Nakar where houses and classrooms also sustained damage due to the strong winds and heavy rains brought about by the typhoon.

Meanwhile, around 1,000 residents in Infanta town were evacuated amid the onslaught of Karding on Sunday evening. The power supply in the area was also cut but was restored on Monday.

“Parang naging shield namin yun eh, yung Polilio Group of Island kasi kung makikita nyo po sa ating map, 'yung Polilio eh parang natatakluban ang Infanta,” MDRRMO-Infanta research and planning officer Jay Art Viaj said.

(Polilio Group of Islands became our shield because if you see on the map, Infanta is covered by Polilio.)

The Office of Civil Defense-CALABARZON will conduct an aerial inspection to evaluate the damage of the typhoon in the province, the report said.

5 Bulacan barangays flooded

Other provinces hit by the typhoon experienced severe flooding, according to Lei Alviz’s report.

These include five barangays in Calumpit, Bulacan which the MDRRMO said was caused by the rains brought about by Karding, high tide and the water released from Bustos Dam.

Meanwhile, over 300 families were evacuated in Dilasag, Aurora. No infrastructure was damaged but some roads and farmlands were affected.

Around 200 passengers were stranded in Lemery, Batangas after trips were suspended in Batangas Port.

Motorists in Mabita, Laguna were also stranded after the national highway in the area became impassable due to the flood.

A bridge in Madela, Quirino was temporarily closed after the river overflowed.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News