La union: A 27-year-old male was tragically struck by lightning and killed during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Nando, internationally known as Ragasa, in northern Luzon. The typhoon, which hit on Monday, has displaced approximately 340 families in the province.
According to Philippines News Agency, the La Union Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the victim hailed from Aringay town. The displaced families, forced to seek safer ground, are part of a larger group of 476 affected families, totaling 1,529 individuals. These families come from 48 barangays across the municipalities of Bangar, Luna, Bagulin, Bauang, Sudipen, Rosario, and San Juan.
Out of the affected families, 203 are currently being accommodated in 32 evacuation centers, while 137 families have sought refuge with relatives or in other homes. The typhoon’s wrath also resulted in one house being completely destroyed in Luna town, with two additional homes partially damaged in Luna and Sudipen towns.
The heavy rainfall brought by Nando has caused flooding in various parts of the province and triggered several landslides. In response, La Union Governor Mario Ortega has mandated a province-wide monitoring effort among local government units to assess and bolster disaster response initiatives.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Ilocos Region has prepositioned a substantial stockpile of 121,348 food and non-food items, valued at PHP96.4 million, in a regional warehouse, two satellite warehouses, and 17 active prepositioning areas across the region. “The warehouses were fully replenished and ready to augment the local government units,” stated DSWD Ilocos regional director Marie Angela Gopalan during a forum on Monday.
Additionally, the Department of Health Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco confirmed the readiness of medical supplies, hygiene kits, potable water, nutrition kits, and other essential logistics. As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains in effect for the northern portion of La Union, with Signal No. 1 in place for other areas of the province.
