Manila: A total of 3,284 families or 10,061 individuals have been preemptively evacuated across northern and central Luzon due to the threat of Super Typhoon Nando (international name Ragasa), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday. In a statement, the DILG indicated that Cagayan Valley recorded the highest number of evacuees with 2,747 families or 8,476 individuals, the majority of which came from Cagayan with 2,457 families or 7,639 individuals. Isabela followed with 256 families or 728 individuals, while Batanes and Nueva Vizcaya reported smaller numbers.
According to Philippines News Agency, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 232 families or 670 individuals were evacuated, mostly from Apayao with 219 families or 639 individuals. Abra accounted for 13 families or 31 individuals. In Ilocos Region, Ilocos Norte reported 63 families or 178 individuals while in Central Luzon, a total of 242 families or 737 individuals were evacuated, largely from Aurora with 229 families or 694 individuals, while Nueva Ecija reported 13 families or 43 individuals.
More local governments continued evacuation operations in high-risk communities as of posting time. The Department commended local government units (LGUs) and frontline responders for acting decisively, underscoring that preemptive evacuation is both a duty of government and a responsibility of communities to safeguard lives.
The DILG urged LGUs to strictly enforce preemptive and mandatory evacuation in barangays highly susceptible to storm surges, flooding, and landslides. LGUs were, likewise, reminded to implement liquor bans, observe the no-sail policy, and ensure that evacuation centers are adequately prepared with food, water, and health facilities. Residents in danger areas and low-lying communities were strongly urged to heed the call of the DILG to voluntarily comply with preemptive evacuation in order to prevent loss of lives.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 was hoisted over Babuyan Islands due to Nando. It is expected to make landfall in over Calayan Island between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Moving westward at 25 km. per hour (kph), Nando is packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 295 kph, according to PAGASA.
