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Marce’s wrath in Cagayan: Toppled trees, blown off roofs

Marce’s wrath in Cagayan: Toppled trees, blown off roofs

IMPASSABLE. Fallen trees block the national highway of Casambalangan in Santa Ana, Cagayan, rendering it impassable starting Thursday, Nov. 7. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALYSSA LIQUIGAN

MANILA, Philippines—The damage left by started to unfold on Friday, Nov. 8 in northern Cagayan where residents said it was one of the most destructive storms to ever hit the province’s coastal area.

Marce, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday, Nov. 4, traversed northern Cagayan on Thursday, Nov. 8, and made landfall in the towns of Santa Ana at 3:40 p.m. and Sanchez-Mira at 9:00 p.m.

READ: Marce nears Cagayan, to make landfall within hours – Pagasa

The typhoon initially packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, but reached 175 kph winds and gustiness of 240 kph when it made landfall.

Signal No. 4 was raised over Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Lasam, and Babuyan Islands at 5:00 p.m.

RELATED STORY: Fishers in Aparri, Cagayan hit hard by Typhoon Marce

The northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte were likewise placed on Signal No. 4.

READ: Signal No. 4 in 3 Northern Luzon areas as Typhoon Marce strengthen

The state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) had warned of life threatening conditions in the northern parts of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte at 2:00 a.m. as Marce moved westward.

In 2016, Cagayan was hit by Typhoon Lawin (international name: Haima), which carried maximum sustained winds of 225 kph and gustiness of up to 315 kph, leaving four fatalities in the province.

In 2018, Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) hit Cagayan, too, with maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph. Ten people died in the region.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMAICA TORRES

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAIN GARETT BADIANG/CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMAICA TORRES

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIA NIKKA ALONZO/CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIA NIKKA ALONZO/CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMAICA TORRES

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANINE PEARL VILLAFLOR/CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMAICA TORRES

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAGAYAN PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAGELCO II

As of 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Signal No. 3 has already been lifted as Marce moved away from Ilocos Region. Signal Nos. 2 and 1 are still in place, however, in some areas in northern Luzon.

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