Photo credit: Cagayan PIO

As of November 20, 2024, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has raised the alert level to red because of the combined impact of Tropical Cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito. Here’s the situation on the ground:

The Human Toll

Casualties:

• Dead: 7

• Injured: 14

• Missing: 3

Evacuations:

• Affected Barangays: 5,859

• Families in evacuation centers: 82,810 (288,566 individuals)

• Preemptive evacuations: 212,161 families (721,369 individuals)

Meanwhile, 43,015 families (154,291 individuals) are currently staying outside evacuation centers.

Infrastructure and Resources Hit Hard

Roads and Bridges:

94 roads and 44 bridges are impassable, hampering relief efforts.

Lifelines:

• Communication interruptions: 23 areas

• Power outages: 74 locations

• Water supply issues: 5 sites

Damage Assessment

• Agriculture Losses: ₱8.6 million

• Infrastructure Damage: ₱1.5 billion

• Partially damaged: 19,014

• Totally destroyed: 3,407

Government Response

The NDRRMC has declared states of calamity in the following severely affected areas:

• Quirino (province-wide)

• Isabela (Santiago & Cabagan)

• Cagayan (Baggao)

• Aurora (Dilasag)

• Mountain Province (province-wide)

• Ifugao (Aguinaldo)

Relief efforts are in full swing, with over ₱2.4 billion worth of standby funds and relief supplies prepositioned across affected regions. Assistance amounting to ₱143 million has already been distributed.

Search and Rescue

A total of 292 search and rescue teams, comprising over 22,000 personnel, have been deployed, with an additional 1,922 teams and 30,452 personnel on standby.

Call for Unity and Preparedness

The NDRRMC continues to urge communities to stay vigilant and adhere to safety advisories. Local governments are doubling efforts to provide relief and maintain order in evacuation centers.