Big waves due to typhoon Betty flatten houses in Baler

Several residents in Baler, Aurora lost their homes after a storm surge brought about by Typhoon Betty devastated parts of the coastal town on Monday.

In Ian Cruz’s “24 Oras” report,  Emily Dela Cruz and her husband said they could only pray for their family’s safety as they did not expect the huge waves to hit their house.

Storm signal number 1 is currently raised over the province, according to PAGASA.

“Lord, tulungan mo po ako at ayaw ko pa po mamatay at may mga anak pa ako. Andito pa mga apo ko tapos hinihiyawan ko siya, akala ko po naanod na siya,” said dela Cruz.

(I said, ‘Lord, please help us. I don't want to die yet because of my children and grandchildren. I was screaming at my husband because I thought he was swept by the waves.)

The Baler Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the strong waves were due to the one-meter high tide and a storm surge of about three meters.

No one was hurt or injured from the dela Cruz family but the tragic incident cost their home and livelihood, and their children and grandchildren’s school supplies. Three other families said the strong waves caused damage to their houses.

“Sana po matulungan nila kami sa pangangailangan namin sa bahay tulad ng school supplies, mga nabasa naming gamit,” Jerome dela Cruz said.

(We hope they can help us, especially with our needs in the household and school supplies.)

For its part, the Aurora MDRRMO said it would provide assistance to the affected families. It will also ask for help from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office to aid the students adversely impacted by the incident.

“Bibigyan natin sila ng assistance and dun sa mga bata na nawalan nang mga gamit, pwede natin sila ilapit dito sa MSWDO para sa assistance para sa kanila,” Hector dela Torre of Aurora MDRRMO said.

(We will provide assistance to them as well as the students.)

Meanwhile, the Baler local government deployed heavy equipment to fix a rough road that was damaged by the strong waves. A preemptive evacuation was also conducted in Sitio Castillo after some residents reported that a portion of their seawall was likewise damaged.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News