Fierce winds, coastal flooding batter Batanes due to Leon

Super Typhoon Leon battered Batanes with fierce winds, rain, and strong waves as it moved closer to the province, which is under Signal No. 4.

In Jonathan Andal’s "24 Oras" report on Wednesday, a video showed that the province's lighthouse was being hit by violent waves.

Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said it is the first time that about 100 families evacuated as water entered their homes brought about by coastal flooding.

She added that their food packs are running out since they were also affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Cayco appealed to authorities to send relief by air after the typhoon.

Meanwhile, in Gonzaga, Cagayan some houses were flooded due to a storm surge.

“Malaki pa ang chance na tataas pa sir kasi ang projection is from two to four meters ang taas. Dapat na-evacuate na sila kasi mahirap na mag evacuate ng gabi,” said Yeng Villamar commander of incident management team of Cagayan.

(There is a big chance that the flood will rise and it is projected that it will rise two to four meters. They should be evacuated already since it's difficult to do it at night.)

However, some residents opted to stay because of their belongings.

To drain the floodwater, some residents hammered their brick fence to create holes and allow the water to flow.

Despite the storm, farmer Esper Conception continued plowing the fields using a tractor so he could still be paid with his P700 a day salary.

“Hindi naman bubuhos si (Super) Typhoon Leon ng maraming tubig sa Region 2 so itong swelling ng Cagayan River paunti-unti lang. Kayang kaya nito iabsorb ano man tubig bumaba from upstream provinces," said Ruelie Rasping, chief of Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

(Super Typhoon Leon will not pour a lot of rain in Region 2 so we don't expect swelling in the Cagayan River. It can absorb the water from upstream provinces.)

Due to the inclement weather, some residents went back to evacuation centers in Baggao for their safety, like Jenny Paet who left her home as it was made of light materials

In Tuguegarao, residents have been staying in the evacuation center for more than a week, like Editha Sibbaluca who opted to postpone returning to their home due to the bad weather.

Despite the increase in evacuees, there are still enough food items in the province, but due to Typhoon Julian, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Leon, the province’s calamity fund has been exhausted.

Rasping said Cagayan will request augmentation from the National DRRM Council.

“This will be the first time in the province of Cagayan na manghingi ng augmention for Quick Response Fund,” Rasping said.

Santa Ana was also battered by a combination of rain and strong winds, causing zero visibility in the area.

There are around 8,000 individuals in evacuation centers in Cagayan. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News