Ilocos Norte declares state of calamity due to Egay

A state of calamity has been declared in Ilocos Norte due to Typhoon Egay, Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos announced Wednesday.

“Our kailians are advised to stay indoors and take precautionary measures. Let us not also forget to pray for everyone’s safety from typhoon Egay,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

According to a "24 Oras" report on Wednesday, more than 600 individuals have been evacuated from the area.

“Tapos nung medyo gumagabi na talagang tumataas na ‘yung tubig kaya nagkaroon kami ng 29 families na evacuees ngayon,” said Veronica Salmon of, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer.

In Laoag, the Padsan River is being monitored for overflowing, and nearby residents have been alerted for possible evacuation.

The strong wind destroyed the ceiling of the arrival area of the Laoag International Airport. Cancellations of flight operations is possible until Friday due to Egay.

“‘Yun nga ang ina-assess namin dahil sa ngayon, mukhang hindi pwedeng mag-operate muna ngayon hanggang bukas hanga’t hindi namin ma-assess ‘yung electrical, medyo malakas pa ang ulan,” said Ronald Estabillio, Civil Aviation area manager.

In the town of Pasuquin, a boring equipment fell and affected the power line, causing a massive brownout in the province.

“Sa ngayon, ang pinakaapektado based doon sa nag pre-emptive (evacuation) dahil doon sa Signal no. 4 sa extreme North ng province Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos, Adams and Dumalneg pero ang pinakamarami as of now is ang Pagudpud,”: said Randy Nicolas, Laoag Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer.

PAGASA earlier said that Signal No. 4 is raised over the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, namely Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg, Pagudpud, Adams, Pasuquin, Vintar, and Bacarra.

Meanwhile, the rest of Ilocos Norte is placed under Signal No. 3

The agency said Egay is expected to gradually weaken throughout the forecast period due to the slightly favorable environment offsetting the impact of land interaction with Northern Luzon and Taiwan.

Egay Impact

One person reportedly died while two others were injured as Egay dumped rains in parts of the country, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its situational report on Wednesday morning, the NDRRMC said it is validating the death and the injuries.

No one has been reported missing so far.

Meanwhile, a total of 44,356 families or 180,439 individuals were affected by Egay in eight regions, 21 provinces, 65 cities/municipalities and 261 barangays.

Displaced persons totaled 11,041, the majority of whom stayed inside 107 evacuation centers.

Fifty-seven houses have been damaged so far, with 49 partially damaged and eight totally damaged. The total estimated cost of the damaged homes is P195,000.

Egay is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning. —With Sherylin Untalan/VAL, GMA Integrated News