Dagupan city: The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) initially recorded a total of 12,270 families or 47,679 individuals affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) from Sunday night to early Monday morning. The affected families are from 255 barangays in 25 municipalities and one city, according to the PDRRMO’s report as of 5 a.m. Monday, when Uwan was downgraded to a typhoon.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pangasinan PDRRMO emergency operations head Pia Flores, in a phone interview, said the number may still rise as assessment is still ongoing. A total of 8,290 families, comprising 27,216 individuals, evacuated due to Uwan – including those who evacuated preemptively, were forced to leave their homes, or were rescued amid the storm. “Hopefully, there will be none (casualties). So far we have not yet received any report from our local counterparts,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Dagupan Electric Corporation (DECORP) denied a circulating social media post on an alleged electrocution incident during the height of the cyclone in the city on Sunday. “DECORP – Dagupan Electric Corporation firmly denies the false reports circulating online about an alleged electrocution incident along Zamora Street, Dagupan City. We confirm that no such incident or casualty occurred related to our operations and urge the public to rely only on official news channels for accurate and verified information,” DECORP said in a social media post. The electric company said the line restoration in various parts of Dagupan City and other areas in Pangasinan is ongoing.
Flores, meanwhile, said storm surges have been reported in Dagupan City, Lingayen, Binmaley, and San Fabian towns. “The water level in Lingayen beach shoreline reached up to chest level during the peak of the onslaught of Uwan,” she said, adding that they are also verifying reports on the water level in the other coastal areas but receded in the morning. Most of the local government units reported fallen trees, some toppled electric posts, and damaged houses but these are still being verified. Clearing operations are ongoing for fallen debris and road blockages. Some localities are experiencing power interruptions and intermittent mobile signal.
Flores said the province will expect heavy rainfall until Tuesday as it is still under a yellow heavy rainfall outlook. “Uwan will linger at the West Philippine Sea before it moves upward to Taiwan,” she said. Governor Ramon Guico III declares suspension of classes in all levels, both public and private schools, as well as work in government offices on Tuesday, to give way for recovery measures from the effects of Uwan, according to the executive order issued Monday.
