About 120 families in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela have been preemptively evacuated due to Typhoon Kiko, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday.
This is equivalent to 415 persons from 15 villages in the two provinces, the NDRRMC said in an update.
Eight evacuation centers are serving 103 families or about 374 individuals, with the remainder sheltering among family and friends.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, directed police forces in areas near the path of “Kiko” to assist in disaster response efforts.
“I have already instructed our police forces in adjacent areas that would not be affected by ‘Kiko’ to put on standby enough personnel and equipment for immediate response for worst-case scenarios,” Eleazar said in a statement.
The weather bureau said “Kiko” has made landfall in Batanes’ Ivana town at about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said stormy weather would be experienced in Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, with possible flash floods or landslides due to heavy to intense rains.
Rains and gusty winds are also expected in Ilocos Norte, Apayao, the rest of Cagayan, Abra, Kalinga, and the northern portion of Isabela, with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.
Source: Philippines News Agency
