TUGUEGARAO CITY: Local disaster risk reduction and management council members in the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes continued to brace for Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing) on Wednesday as it headed towards this part of Luzon. Ronald Villa, operations head of the Office of Civil Defense 2 (Cagayan Valley), reported in a press briefing held via Zoom, that all concerned government agencies were on red alert to prepare for the worst-case scenario for Marce, which brings strong winds with light to moderate rains in some parts of Northern Luzon.
According to Philippines News Agency, continuous meetings with local authorities are being conducted to ensure readiness for the worst-case scenario, using predictive analysis to identify areas most likely to be affected by flash floods and landslides and those requiring pre-emptive evacuation. Villa noted the collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and uniformed personnel to pre-position sufficient food and non-food items in strateg
ic locations in Cagayan and Batanes. Response teams from outside the region have been readied for deployment.
Villa called on residents to heed local government instructions for pre-emptive evacuation in high-risk areas, emphasizing the difficulty of conducting rescue operations during the evening. Following a risk assessment meeting with the City Risk Reduction and Management Council in Tuguegarao City, Mayor Maila Ting-Que urged residents in low-lying areas to stay vigilant as the Cagayan River neared alert level.
As of 11 a.m., Marce had intensified with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Ting-Que urged residents to take proactive measures to mitigate the effects of expected heavy rainfall in Cagayan in the next 24 hours. The water level at Buntun Bridge, connecting Cagayan and Apayao, was at 3.7 meters by noon and continued to rise.
Disaster risk officials issued warnings of flash floods and notices of evacuation, urging families to prioritize safety. Eva
cuation centers have been prepared in anticipation of the storm. The alert level for water is set at 4 meters, with warning and critical levels at 8 meters and 11 meters, respectively. Fishermen in Calayan Island secured their boats to safer locations due to a storm surge warning, while government buildings were boarded up to protect against strong winds.
