CATANDUANES — Often called the “Land of the Howling Winds” — lived up to its name on Sunday as super typhoon "Uwan" slammed into the island with a ferocity not seen in years.

As Uwan’s eyewall brushed past the province, winds roared up to 190 km/h, with gusts topping 230 km/h. Torrential rain — projected to exceed 1,000 millimeters in some areas — quickly turned low-lying barangays into flood zones.

In Virac, Gigmoto, Bato and Pandan, storm surges tore into coastal villages, forcing hundreds of families into evacuation centers.

Power and water lines went down early, cutting off entire communities as emergency teams battled through fallen trees and live wires.

“We’re on high alert for possible landslides and overflowing rivers,” said local disaster officials, noting that more than 100,000 residents had already sought safety in shelters, schools, and municipal buildings before the typhoon made landfall.

Winds, water and courage

Images and radio updates painted a grim but familiar picture: roofs ripped from homes, coconut trees uprooted, and rescue teams wading through chest-deep water to reach stranded residents.

In Barangay Gogon, Virac, floodwaters swallowed roads, while videos from the Philippine Red Cross showed shattered windows and families huddled in the dark as the winds howled outside.

“The power went out before dawn,” said one resident of San Isidro. “All we could hear was the wind — and the sirens.”

Race to respond

Even as the storm raged, rescue and relief operations were in motion. Local governments and the provincial disaster council have been working nonstop to deliver food, medical aid, and blankets to those displaced. Still, fallen trees and blocked roads made many areas hard to reach, and communication lines remained patchy.

Amid the chaos, stories of kindness and courage began to surface — neighbors carrying the elderly to safety, fishermen securing boats for others, and teachers transforming classrooms into makeshift shelters.

Heavy toll on farms and infrastructure

Early damage reports showed widespread losses to coconut plantations, rice fields and fishponds, dealing a serious blow to the province’s main sources of livelihood. Bridges, schools, and local clinics also suffered extensive damage, with debris littering the main highways.